Chapter Meeting June 8, 2021
Using Design Structure Matrices (DSMs) for Modeling System Architectures by Dr. Tyson R. Browning
Location: Virtual (see chapter newsletter for connection information)
Abstract: The design structure matrix (DSM) is a powerful tool for visualizing, analyzing, innovating, and improving systems—including product designs, organizational structures, and process flows. The DSM is a square matrix showing relationships among system elements, which can be product components, software code packages, teams, activities, etc. By analyzing a DSM, one can prescribe a better (e.g., more modular, less cyclical) system architecture or organization. The DSM is concise, visually appealing, and used in many organizations across diverse industries. Users have found the DSM extremely useful for fostering architectural innovation. This presentation introduces product architecture DSM applications for product developers and systems engineers. Real-life examples are presented from the aerospace, automotive, and other industries. DSM models work well in conjunction with MBSE and architecture framework tools.
· Bio: Dr. Tyson R. Browning is an internationally recognized researcher, educator, and consultant. He is a full Professor of Operations Management in the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University, where he conducts research on managing complex projects (integrating managerial and engineering perspectives) and teaches MBA courses on project management, operations management, risk management, and process improvement. A sought-after speaker, he has trained and advised several organizations, including BNSF Railway, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Seagate, Siemens, Southern California Edison, and the U.S. Navy. He has also served as an expert witness in legal proceedings.
· Prior to joining TCU in 2003, he worked for Lockheed Martin, the Lean Aerospace Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Honeywell Space Systems, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. He earned a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Abilene Christian University before two Master’s degrees and a Ph.D. from MIT.
· His research results appear in journals such as California Management Review, Decision Sciences, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Journal of Mechanical Design, Journal of Operations Management, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, MIT Sloan Management Review, Production & Operations Management, Project Management Journal, and Systems Engineering. He is also the co-author of a book on the Design Structure Matrix (DSM). He has given over 200 academic and industry presentations and workshops in 17 countries.
· Having previously served as a Department or Associate Editor for three journals, he is currently co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Operations Management. He is a member of several professional societies: Academy of Management, Association for Supply Chain Management, Decision Sciences Institute, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, International Council on Systems Engineering, Production and Operations Management Society, and Project Management Institute.