OPTIMIZATION IN THE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PROCESS

Although computer-based mathematical optimization methods have been under development for over two decades, there has been relatively little penetration into product design. Often this is due to the rigidity of the traditional layout-analysis sequential design process. A series of examples which illustrate the integration of optimization methods into the design process will be presented. The majority of these examples will be structural design problems which have been solved using General Motors Research Laboratories structural optimization program, ODYSSEY. These examples came from prototype vehicle design programs. In general, optimization has been most successful where the layout-analysis design process is centralized rather than sequential, or where the optimization can be easily applied to the final selection of a few components of a detailed model. Optimization has been able to give effective high-quality design direction as well as detailed sizing of components.