Design Structure Matrix with Quality Equations: Concepts, Methods, Applications in Scheduling Problem with Resource Constraint and Milestone

Design phase is characterized by highly coupled and interdependent activities, which result rework or iteration in the phase. In dealing with this problem, information flows have to be well organized therefore it can lead to the most optimum completion time. The Design Structure Matrix (DSM) is a compact matrix representation that models information flows among activities in the design phase. Previous DSM concepts used basic logic of faster and fewer iteration, while assuming the number of iteration occurred to achieve optimum completion time. This research proposed a new methodology that combined faster and fewer iteration concepts by adding other information, i.e. Quality Equations. Quality Equations will be performed in order to reduce the lack of assumption in determining the number of occurred iteration. Resource constraint and rare resource problems are also included in the research to bring the problem closer to reality. Genetic Algorithm (GA) is the methodology that will be used to help coordinate and optimize the activities structure in terms of minimizing completion time.