Approach for structuring the product environment for a systematic analysis of field data

The Development of complex products in a satisfactory way is a difficult task. This is confirmed by the increasing number of recalls and customer complaints. In order to achieve a high product quality, different approaches were developed; one is the Generic System Engineering (GSE), a method that fits the complex product system in a standardized system model. The product system is in fact influenced to a high degree by the environment. To consider this impact, this paper discusses the structuring of the environment into processes and locations and their influences to the product system. This allows the systematic use of field data to limit the quantity of elements and their interaction in the processes and locations in order to improve the process of problem-solving. The benefit is to learn from mistakes in the context of the GSE. This supports cause-analysis, effect-analysis and therefore the enhancement of product systems.