A Comparison of Educational Perspectives on VDI 2221 and Axiomatic Design

Abstract

Engineering design methods play a crucial role in both academia and industry. These systematic approaches facilitate product and system development, allowing for innovative solutions and refinements. Specifically, this paper will compare two common engineering design methods Axiomatic Design (AD) and VDI 2221 in terms of their application in teaching and their transferability to industry, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Firstly, a quantitative comparison of the two methods will be conducted. Comparative factors will include scope, accessibility, required prior knowledge, and the availability of tools for each method. Following this, insights from teaching experiences at the Technical University of Graz and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will be discussed, focusing on the teachability of the methods. This will provide insights into the effectiveness and suitability of the methods for higher education. The transfer potential of the methods to SMEs will be derived from these. Finally, the findings and improvement potential will be summarized, and possibilities for the knowledge transfer of engineering design methods to SMEs will be formulated.