Applying Functional Modeling as a Unifying Basis for Design for Six Sigma Execution

This paper explores the applicability of the most recently developed methods in functional modeling to Design for Six Sigma transfer function development and requirements flowdown. An example created during a collaborative research project between the General Motors R&D Center and the University of Missouri – Rolla is used to demonstrate the benefits of using standardized functional modeling during conceptual design. The proposed standard for creating the functional models is the Functional Basis. The Functional Basis is a list of function and flow terms that can be used to describe electro-mechanical systems. The example presented in this paper is based on the parking brake system of a passenger car. Module heuristics, function-based rules for partitioning systems, were used to define the sub-systems during the requirements flowdown example. The functional modeling techniques used in this example provide a standard method of capturing current engineering design knowledge while allowing additional knowledge to be discovered.