On the Functionality of Cambridge Advanced Modeller: A Systematic Qualitative-Quantitative Approach

The modelling, simulation, and analysis of engineering design processes is non-trivial and understanding the behaviour of such systems is particularly challenging both for the research community and for practitioners. In order to respond to these needs, Cambridge Advanced Modeller (CAM) has been in development at Cambridge Engineering Design Centre (EDC) since 2007. Over the time, it has been well recognised as an effective software tool for modelling and analysing the project tasks and dependencies in such complex systems and been used in so many worldwide applications in both academic and commercial contexts. However, as of its first release in 2007, and after around a decade, there has not been a generic investigation on how previously developed models in Cambridge EDC came up with challenges raising from design complexity and uncertainty, and to what extent, the CAM software has been capable to address these challenges, with regards to its multiple toolboxes. In order to address the above objectives, this thesis contributes to investigating the functionality of CAM in modelling complex engineering processes, through a systematic methodology. The general objective is (1) to enhance the capabilities of CAM and broaden its utility in supporting worldwide users on the one hand, and (2) to identify the key modelling challenges so that can be addressed in future model developments, aiming to answer: how to do effective modelling? A systematic methodology was undertaken to address the above objectives: a hybrid qualitative and quantitative procedure. As far as related to the qualitative study, a conceptual framework developed (based on which a number of (mostly internal) users) was selected for interview and followed by an expanded survey that conducted to understand the current practice of CAM in supporting the broad range of its internal and external users. The quantitative aspect of this study was mainly concerned with rebuilding multiple versions of well-known Signposting systems (that was originally developed in the same centre in 2000 and was seen several improvements over the years) in CAM. An old case of a Mechanical Design System used to re-build, simulate, and run the models. Accordingly, a range of advanced diagramming tools (such as Parallel Coordinates Plots, Dependency Matrices, and comparative (probabilistic) Gantt Charts) presented to visualise the results and followed by an expanded sensitivity analysis for performance evaluation. Based on the observations of qualitative study (interviews and survey) and the outcomes of modelling in CAM, the supplementary discussion presented to answer the research objectives, for example, what sort of functions should be added to the software, or what modelling issues should be particularly addressed in future modelling efforts. Finally, the thesis concluded with directions for future researchers.