by Kenneth Crow
DRM Associates

Use by University Learning Institute explicitly granted.

Subsystem/Subassembly/Part Deployment Matrix

1. Using the selected concept as a basis, develop a design layout, block diagram and/or a preliminary parts list. Determine critical subsystems, subassemblies or parts. Consider impact of subsystems, subassemblies or parts on product performance or with respect to development goals. What parts, assemblies or subsystems present major challenges or are critical to the success and operation of the product? What critical characteristics have a major effect on performance? Consider performing failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA); failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA); or fault tree analysis (FTA) to help pinpoint critical items and their critical characteristics from a reliability/quality perspective.
   
   If there will be multiple Subsystem/Subassembly/Part Deployment Matrices prepared, deploy the technical characteristics and their target values to the appropriate matrices. Carry forward the important or critical product requirements or technical characteristics from Product Planning Matrix (based on importance ratings and team decision) to the Subsystem/Subassembly/Part Deployment Matrix. These "product needs" become the "what's" for this next level matrix. Where appropriate, allocate target values (e.g., target manufacturing cost, mean-time between failures, etc.) to the Subsystem / Subassembly / Part Deployment Matrices. Organize these product requirements or technical characteristics by assembly(ies) or part(s) to be addressed on a particular deployment matrix. Include any additional customer needs or requirements to address more detailed customer needs or general requirements. Normalize the Importance Ratings from the Product Planning Matrix and bring them forward as the Priority ratings. Review these priority ratings and make appropriate changes for the subsystems, subassemblies or parts being addressed. Determine the the Priority for any needs that were added.
   
   Considering product requirements or technical characteristics, identify the critical part, subassembly or subsystem characteristics. State the characteristics in a measurable way. For higher-level subsystems or subassembles, state the characteristics in a global manner to avoid constraining concept selection at this next level.
   
   Develop relationships between product needs (product-level technical characteristics) and the subsystem / subassembly / part technical characteristics. Use 5-3-1 relationship weights for strong, medium and weak relationships. Be sparing with the strong relationships.
   
   Develop preliminary target values for subsystem / subassembly / part characteristics.
   
   Determine potential positive and negative interactions between the technical part characteristics using symbols for strong or medium, positive or negative relationships. Too many positive interactions suggest potential redundancy in critical part characteristics. Focus on negative interactions - consider different subsystem / subassembly / part concepts, different technologies, tooling concepts, material technology, and process technology to overcome the potential trade-off or consider the trade-off in establishing target values.
   
   Calculate importance ratings. Assign a weighting factor to the relationships (5-3-1). Multiply the customer importance rating by the improvement factor (if any), the sales point factor (if any) and the relationship factor in each cell of the relationship matrix and add the resulting products in each column.
   
   Identify a difficulty rating (1 to 5 point scale, five being very difficult and risky) for each subsystem / subassembly / part requirement or technical characteristic. Consider technology maturity, personnel technical qualifications, business risk, manufacturing capability, supplier capability, and schedule. Develop a composite rating or breakdown into individual assessments by category. Determine if overall risk is acceptable and if individual risks based on target or specification values are acceptable. Adjust target or specification values accordingly.
   
   Analyze the matrix and finalize the subsystem/subassembly/part deployment matrix. Determine required actions and areas of focus.
   
   
2. Finalize target values. Consider interactions, importance ratings and difficulty ratings.