Knowledge Structuring for Function Design

Well-structured functional knowledge Is essential to conduct function design as stated by well-known design methods, Including Suhʹs axiomatic design approach and one of Pahl and Beltz. Innovative design is a consequence of combining different types of knowledge sources, and obviously requires well-structured functional knowledge. The paper focuses on Suhʹs axiomatic design approach. Through a design example, the paper shows that his first axiom (functional Independence axiom) depends on such well-structured knowledge. This confirms that good design results not from functional Independence of functional requirements but from such well-structured functional knowledge.