A DETAILED COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO MECHANICAL PRODUCTS WITH A VALUE ANALYSIS APPROACH

This paper presents a comparative analysis of two mechanical systems with a value analysis approach. This approach is used to characterise mechanical products functions and to evaluate if the associated costs are acceptable. With this approach, we have a model which supports all the generated information during the design process: from design requirements to detailed solutions. Our research objective has been to test value analysis tools in order to verify if they are really usable for manufacturers. In this paper, it is shown that the approach is useful in helping designers to compare and to make a choice concerning a solution, but some improvements have to be done to increase the tools usability.