Method for the identification and comparison of alternative process chains focusing on economics efficiency analysis during the conceptual design of mechatronic integrated devices

Nowadays developers are confronted with rising requirements in terms of miniaturization along with optimal utilization of provided space plus functions integration. The technology mechatronic integrated devices (MID) meets those requirements successfully. A central challenge in this field is the economic efficiency analysis which was identified as a main key factor for successful MID-Projects. In this paper a method for the identification and comparison of alternative process chains focusing on economics efficiency analysis is presented. It is based on the so called principle solution which is modeled with the specification technique by Gausemeier et al. as well as new developed process cards. The method will be exemplified on the miniature robot BeBot which has been developed at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute.