Abstract: By analyzing the relations between two designing activities, a matrix representation for a product design process is described in this paper. A method for constructing a design structure matrix based activity is presented; an algebra-analyzing method is proposed for identifying the sets of coupling activities; algorithms for activity-decomposing and activity-tearing are presented, and re-engineering for a design process is proposed; finally, a case, the crane telescopic boom design process modeled with design structure matrix, is presented.

Key words: design, design structure matrix, process re-engineering, design process modeling