The Trade Study skill provides structured capabilities for conducting engineering trade studies and concept selection, enabling systematic evaluation of design alternatives against requirements.
Capabilities
Trade study framework setup
Evaluation criteria definition and weighting
Concept generation support
Pugh matrix implementation
Quantitative scoring methods
Sensitivity analysis
Decision documentation
Stakeholder consensus building
Usage Guidelines
Trade Study Framework
Trade Study Types
Type
Application
Complexity
Screening
Eliminate non-viable options
Low
Pugh matrix
Comparative evaluation
Medium
Weighted scoring
Quantitative ranking
Medium
Multi-attribute utility
Complex decisions
High
Optimization
Parameter selection
High
Process Overview
1. Define objectives and scope
2. Establish evaluation criteria
3. Generate alternatives
4. Collect data for each alternative
5. Score alternatives against criteria
6. Analyze results and sensitivity
7. Make recommendation
8. Document decision
Criteria Development
Criteria Categories
Category
Example Criteria
Performance
Power output, efficiency, accuracy
Physical
Size, weight, volume
Cost
Development cost, unit cost, life cycle cost
Schedule
Development time, lead time
Risk
Technical risk, schedule risk, cost risk
Manufacturability
Complexity, process capability
Reliability
MTBF, failure modes, redundancy
Maintainability
Access, service intervals, spares
Criteria Weighting
Methods for weight assignment:
1. Direct assignment
- Assign percentages directly
- Total must equal 100%
2. Pairwise comparison
- Compare each pair of criteria
- Calculate weights from preferences
3. Swing weighting
- Consider range of performance
- Assign weights based on swing importance
4. AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)
- Structured pairwise comparison
- Consistency check included
Concept Generation
Brainstorming Guidelines
1. Define the function to be achieved
2. Generate alternatives without judgment
3. Consider:
- Prior art and benchmarks
- Different technologies
- Component variations
- Configuration options
4. Combine and refine ideas
5. Screen for feasibility
Calculate for each alternative:
- Sum of positives
- Sum of negatives
- Weighted sum of positives
- Weighted sum of negatives
- Net score
Use results to:
- Eliminate weak concepts
- Identify best features
- Create hybrid concepts
- Iterate evaluation
1. Weight sensitivity
- Vary weights +/- 10-20%
- Identify crossover points
- Determine robust winner
2. Score sensitivity
- Vary scores +/- 1 point
- Consider uncertainty in data
- Identify close decisions
3. Tornado diagram
- Show impact of each factor
- Prioritize data improvement
Decision Documentation
Trade Study Report
Required sections:
1. Executive summary
2. Objectives and scope
3. Evaluation criteria and weights
4. Alternatives description
5. Data sources and assumptions
6. Scoring rationale
7. Results and analysis
8. Sensitivity analysis
9. Recommendation
10. Appendices (detailed data)
Process Integration
ME-002: Conceptual Design Trade Study
Input Schema
{"study_objective":"string","scope":{"system":"string","decision_type":"concept|configuration|supplier|technology"},"requirements":"array of requirement references","alternatives":[{"name":"string","description":"string","data_sources":"array"}],"stakeholders":"array of reviewers","constraints":{"budget":"number","schedule":"string","must_meet":"array of requirements"}}
