A Matrix-Based Blueprint for System Architecture Design – A Case Study with an Industrial Partner

Abstract

Trends like digitalization, servitization and the ongoing globalization drive an ever more growing product complexity. To handle this challenge and to succeed on fast-paced markets, companies need to constantly model, organize, and improve their system architectures. This paper combines different approaches from the literature with specific needs of the industry partner. An overview of definitions and processes found in literature is the basis for deriving a generic framework that enables companies to implement a system architecture design process that builds the basis for further actions like risk management or the introduction of platform strategies. The main part of the framework is a guideline on how to ensure a comprehensive system architecture regardless of the amount of resources spent on the process. The framework is applied to different use cases of the industry partner at varying levels of complexity.

Authors 6

1. Benjamin Nils Johannes Lender Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL of the RWTH Aachen University

2. Jakob Trauer

   Technical University of Munich

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design , Technical University of Munich

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design, Technical University of Munich

3. Sebastian Schweigert

   Technical University of Munich

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design , Technical University of Munich

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design, Technical University of Munich

4. Karsten Spreitzer

   Viessmann (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Viessmann Werke Allendorf GmbH

5. Nils Chmielewski

   Viessmann (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Viessmann Werke Allendorf GmbH

6. Markus N. Zimmermann

   Technical University of Munich

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design , Technical University of Munich

   Laboratory for Product Development and Lightweight Design, Technical University of Munich