A product design support system having an input device for data input operation, an output device for data display and printout, a data hold device having a program hold unit for holding a program library and a data storage unit for holding data, and a computer main body for getting data inputted with the input device and data held in the data hold device, invoking a proper program from the program library held in the data hold device, and executing the program, the system comprising:
- a parameter set/register unit to receive design parameters of a design object inputted with the input device and register the design parameters in the data hold device;
- an orthogonal table creation unit to execute an orthogonal table creation program with the use of the design parameters registered in the data hold device, create an orthogonal table having L rows whose number corresponds to the number of the parameters, and register the orthogonal table in the data hold device;
- a dimensions operation unit to invoke and execute a dimensions determination program from the data hold device with the use of data of the L-row orthogonal table, determine dimensions of each part of the design object with respect to design points of the L rows of the orthogonal table so as to achieve design target values, and register the dimensions in the data storage unit;
- a simulation execution unit to invoke a simulation program for the design object from the data hold device, execute many times, for each of L sets of design solutions obtained by the dimensions operation unit, a virtual prototyping operation by adjusting the dimensions of each part registered in the data hold unit within tolerances, and register the simulation results in the data hold unit;
- an evaluation index operation unit to read the design parameters, parts dimensions, and simulation results from the data hold unit, invoke and execute an evaluation index operation program for the design object, compute evaluation indexes corresponding to the set design parameters, and register the evaluation indexes in the data hold unit;
- a response surface model operation unit to invoke a response surface operation program from the data hold device, process averages and variances of the L sets of evaluation indexes obtained by the simulation execution unit, form a response surface and response surface model, and register the response surface model in the data hold device;
- a factorial effect diagram making unit to read the L-row orthogonal table and evaluation indexes from the data hold device, execute a factorial effect diagram making program from the data hold device, make a factorial effect diagram of design parameters for each evaluation index, display and output the factorial effect diagrams, and register them in the data hold device;
- a design solution group computation unit to execute a design solution search program held in the data hold device with respect to an operation input that specifies design parameters sensitive to the evaluation indexes, prepare optional combinations of the design parameters, apply the combinations to the response surface model registered in the data hold device, thoroughly find many design solutions by optionally combining all design parameters that may achieve the design target values, and register the design solutions in the data hold device;
- a filtering unit to receive an operation input that specifies an optional number of evaluation index limit values, invoke and execute a filtering program from the data hold device, extract a maximum likelihood design solution candidate group that achieves the specified evaluation index limit values out of the design solution group obtained by the design solution group computation unit, and register the maximum likelihood design solution candidate group in the data hold device;
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- a maximum likelihood design solution group select unit to receive a maximum likelihood design solution group select command that specifies one or plural kinds of evaluation indexes with respect to the maximum likelihood design solution candidate group filtered by the filtering unit, select a maximum likelihood design solution group that satisfies the specified evaluation indexes out of the maximum likelihood design solution candidate group, and register the maximum likelihood design solution group in the data hold device.