Linking Emergence to the Complex Product System

Abstract

The increasing complexity of product calls for manufacturing integration, while in turn high integration brings the problems of system level complexity. This paper proposes that complex product system (CoPS) should be managed as a dynamical system. The dynamical characteristics of CoPS are discussed from the perspective of emergence. A conceptual model is established to analyze the cause, process and result of the CoPS emergence. The mechanism of inner state emergence in CoPS is interpreted by formal languages to provide a point view of state space. It is concluded that the behavior of CoPS, especially the complexity, exhibits the 'entity is greater than the sum of the parts' phenomena when satisfying given necessary conditions. A novel methodology is then established to evaluate this emergence-based complexity. The feasibility and application of the novel complexity measurement is verified by an example of turbine housing production process. Further discussions are made on how to manage the potential emerging complexity based on the proposed measurement.