ABSTRACT
In Chapter 5, the axiomatic method was introduced as one means of performing functional decomposition. In this approach, the product is the physical entity (DP) that satises the highest level FR. At the lower levels in the hierarchy, the DPs can be thought of as modules, components, or units whose purpose is to satisfy their corresponding FR. We recall from Section 5.1.2 that corresponding to each DP there is a concept (specic principle, method, or means) that will be used to satisfy the referent FR. There are three stages that one goes through to arrive at the product’s nal form: (1) concept generation and evaluation; (2) determination of the congurations (spatial relationships) of the functional units with respect to each other and the congurations of the components comprising each unit; and (3) determination of the physical form (embodiment) that embraces the concept(s), as employed in their units, and their most suitable conguration. The second and third stages are usually implemented in an overlapping, integrated, and iterative manner.
