Washing machine proves useful for awardwinning engineering research
Tarek AlGeddawy, left, and Hoda ElMaraghy hold up a copy of the Best Paper certificate they
won from the Journal of Engineering Design.
Hoda ElMaraghy and Tarek AlGeddawy figured they needn’t look any further than an ordinary
household appliance like a washing machine to demonstrate how manufacturers can respond to
growing consumer demand for increased product variety but still remain profitable.
“It made sense to use a washing machine as a model because it’s realistic, it’s a good size, and
it’s typical of many consumer products” said Dr. AlGeddawy, a post-doctoral research fellow in
the lab of Dr. ElMaraghy, an engineering professor, Canada Research Chair and director of the
University’s Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Centre.
The pair recently developed a model that uses a cladogram – a diagram normally used by
biologists to illustrate relationships between species – to demonstrate how a manufacturer can
identify the best product component architecture, satisfy different market requirements, and
minimize the costs associated with the proliferation of product variety, by promoting modular
product family and platform design.
Their model is described in a paper that was published last November in the academic Journal of
Engineering Design, and the publication’s editors selected it as the Best Paper for 2012, based on
the “scientific and professional value of the ideas presented, the comprehensiveness of
investigations, significance and societal impacts of the findings, and the quality of conclusions.”
ElMaraghy said the paper is significant because it provides a generic model manufacturers can
use to group the components of their own products and map out ways they can produce them
efficiently and inexpensively, while still offering the consumer product choice and value in an
economy of mass production.
“Product variety is a burden for manufacturers, but it also presents an opportunity to increase
market share by offering a wide scope of products,” she said. “Just look at the variety of options
in an automobile. Managing that variety is a must in order to be successful.”
AlGeddawy, who based his PhD on the co-evolution of design of various products and the
systems used to manufacture them, said the model builds on the concept of commonality of
components that can perform the same function in many product variants.
“It defines product structure, but still offers variety, by grouping various components,” he
explained. “The steps for applying the model are very clear, and it’s generic enough to apply if
you’re making washing machines, auto parts or airplanes.”
ElMaraghy and AlGeddawy were both thrilled with the best paper award.
“It’s a top tier journal,” said ElMaraghy, who noted she has received lots of positive feedback on
it at conferences she’s recently attended. “It’s very difficult to get published in.”
— Published on Mar 05, 2013