Multi-board Concept - a Scenario Based Approach for Supporting Product Quality and Life Cycle Oriented Design

This paper will describe the multi-board concept, which is a working approach for supporting life cycle oriented design and product quality. Aspects of this concept include construction of a common working environment where multiple display boards depict scenarios of the product life cycle, creating a shared quality mindset amongst designers, and developing creativity and synthesis in product design. The appropriateness of scenarios for supporting life cycle oriented design will be argued and preliminary results from early experimentation will be presented. Initial results lead us to believe that the multi-board concept promises to be a useful means of communication amongst the design team. We believe that it fosters a thorough understanding of life cycle events, which, in turn, inspires the design of innovative products of the highest quality.