Functional Basis and B-Cube: Alternative or Complementary Models?
Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Chulvi, Vicente; Vidal, Rosario
Series: ICED
Section: Design Information and Knowledge
Page(s): 11-18
Abstract
Human beings have always tried to classify knowledge in order to manage it. A common way to structure knowledge in a hierarchical manner is by means of taxonomies. Within the context of engineering and functional design several function taxonomies have been developed. The most significant reconciliation of function taxonomies nowadays are those provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, called the functional basis. A new model for managing knowledge, the B-Cube model, has been developed based on the main achievements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, namely, reduced ambiguity and increased uniformity. The present work explains, in general lines, the B-Cube model developed by the authors, and it shows a comparison between this model and the functional basis. The aim of the paper is to defend the usefulness of B-Cube in functional design within the Function-Behaviour-Structure framework, and to demonstrate that it can fit the Behaviour level and work together with the functional basis.
Keywords: FBS framework; B-Cube; functional design; functional basis