This paper contributes to a qualitative assessment of system architecture regarding efficiency. The focused dimension of efficiency is the processes executed by system architecture. The approach proposes the application of matrix-based methods such as Domain-Mapping-Matrixes (DMM) to achieve a qualitative assessment of process efficiency. Using a DMM of the systems’ processes and their contributing products, characteristics for a qualitative assessing the system’s efficiency are deduced. These characteristics are utilized to compare different system architectures towards their process efficiency. By multiplying the DMM, a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) of products is calculated. Structural analyses are performed using this DSM to gain further insights towards process efficiency by analysing the interaction of the products contributing to processes. An industrial case study (offshore drilling systems) is used to present the application of the approach. Based on the results and insights of this case study, potentials, areas of improvement, and further steps are discussed.     «

This paper contributes to a qualitative assessment of system architecture regarding efficiency. The focused dimension of efficiency is the processes executed by system architecture. The approach proposes the application of matrix-based methods such as Domain-Mapping-Matrixes (DMM) to achieve a qualitative assessment of process efficiency. Using a DMM of the systems’ processes and their contributing products, characteristics for a qualitative assessing the system’s efficiency are deduced. These c...     »