Functional analysis: represent the tree structure of functions to find appropriate technical solutions

For designer-realizers, functional analysis optimizes the creation or "redesign" of the product based on the functions expressed by the user (recorded in the user's specifications and concluded by your preliminary work). Each function is a service to be provided by the product.

You're an engineer in a small or medium-sized company, responsible for the functional analysis of a product.

You've already taken the following steps (see "Re-designing" a product with functional analysis: preliminary work and steps for using this tool [FIC 0615] , Using functional analysis to create a new product: preliminary work and steps for using this tool [FIC 0661] , Functional analysis: Expressing needs in terms of functions and methods for finding functions [FIC 0616] ):

• express the user's need ;

• identify product life phases ;

• for each life stage, identify and characterize elements of the external environment;

• identify service functions (main functions and constraints), then technical functions ;

• characterize functions by setting assessment criteria.

All that's left to do is graph the functions and find the solutions.

The graphical representation is a mandatory step that allows :

• summarize your work ;

• communicate more easily about the project ;

• find the right vocabulary and a common language with all project stakeholders;

• ...