Functional Analysis

Ashok Joshi

CEP Course on Systems Engineering

25th – 29th January 2007
POINTS Programme, DIAT Pune

CASDE, Aero. Deptt., IIT Bombay

A. Joshi, Aero., IIT Bombay
 Functional Analysis Aims
System Performance specifications give a
quantitative description of
What is to be done? Function
 Functional Thinking
To Perform a Function: To act, serve, operate, carry
out normal work, activity or process
Function: A statement of work, operation, action to
meet system objectives
Functional Thinking: Enables designers to first
consider what is to be done & then only think of the
way in which it is to be done.
Advantages: A common language for all specialists.
Best chance for innovation as problem is stated in
the most abstract form
 Functional Analysis History

Larry Miles (WW II) formulated the theory of

Value Analysis, which determined what a
component or an assembly did. It permitted
determination of the function of the assembly

In 1950 US Navy changed it to Value Engg.,

before redefinition as Functional Analysis
 Why Functional Analysis?
Principal means of gaining insight into the
system functionality (what system must do)

An important first step in determining system

requirements

Consideration of a problem independent of

specific technical solutions and provision for
a basis for developing innovative solutions
 Functional Tasks
Input Function Output

Input to the Function

Switch “ON”

From Previous Supply Power

Function To Next Function

Output of the Function

Function Title Energize coil

Hierarchical Decomposition
Functional Analysis Diagrams
Processing instructions
Control flow
 Categories of Functions
Basic/Primary Functions
Primary useful characteristics that fulfill user need

Secondary/Supporting Functions
Additional functions required for basic functions
All functions other than the basic functions

Aesthetic Functions
Functions that satisfy only the customer ego
Also, functions that provide only aesthetics
 Functional Types & Forms
Intended Functions : Functions planned
Unintended Functions : Functions not planned
Useful Functions : Functions giving useful output
Harmful Functions : Functions giving harmful output

Context Diagrams
Functional Identification Diagrams
Functional Flow Diagrams ( FFD )
Time Line or Activity Diagrams
State Transition Diagram
 Functional Decomposition
Mission needs Concept of Extract top Add missing
statement operations level functions Functions

Lessons learnt
Discrete Behavior Functional flow
event diagram block diagram Legal Safety
Simulation Requirements
Logical Functional Physical
simulation Life cycle
architecture architecture Requirements

Recycle through Reliability

Extract next level child Requirements
derived functions analysis
Repeat Maintainability
 Hierarchical Rules
All Functions stated as Active Verb
“track all aircraft with probability > 0.7”

All (sub-) functions are a minimum set

Less than 5-7 sub-functions at a given level

Interrelated functions to be grouped together

Grouping to promote simplicity of relationship

Context Diagram
Function Identification

Only for Starting

Function Flow
Time Line or Activity
ATC Case Study
ATC Case Study
ATC Case Study
 Water Dispenser Study
CONOPS details Functions Generated Function
Visits the systems demands From system point of view
water and gets it and goes Accept demand F.1
satisfied
Dispense water F.2
accept stop dispensing F.3
Stop dispensing F.4
Visits the system Demands accept demand F.1
water gets it but does not Dispense water F.2
cancel his demand
No stop demand F.5

Visits the system demands From system point of view

water but does not get it accept demand F.1
Not able to supply water F.6
 Water Dispenser Study
Visits the system and in the Skid and get injured F.7
process skids and falls and gets
injured
Spills water during the Spill water while collecting F.8
collection and drinking process drinking
Give complaint Give complaint F.9

Water dispensing system leaks System leak F.10

when in use
Water dispensing system leaks System leaks F.10
when not in use
Water gets contaminated in the Contaminate water F.11
dispensing process
Water is heated in the Heat water F.12
dispensing process
 Water Dispenser Study
Requirement Type of Requirement
requirement
1. While drinking water the Functional ORD.14
system should not give an
electrical shock to the user due
to any fault
2. The system should have an Functional ORD.15
Mean Time Between Failures
(MTBF) of …hours
3. The system should have a Functional ORD.16
mean Time To Repair
(MTTR) of …..minutes
4. In the process of dispensing Performance ORD.17
the water temperature should
not rise more than 4 degrees
centigrade
 Water Dispenser Study

F.1 Accept demand F.2 Dispense F.3 Accept stop dispensing

water

F.4 Stop dispensing

F.1 Sense demand F.2.1 Open supply F.2.2 Create pressure head

F.3 Sense stop F.2.4 Deliver water F.2.3 Control rate

demand of flow

F.4 Stop supply

 MAV Mission Case Study

System check Transport to Load mission

Plan mission
out at Office Launch Site plan

Go to auto Take off Preflight checks Prepare for flight

NAV mode manual mode

Return to Go to manual
Perform mission mode
landing site

Post flight Post flight analysis

Descend Land
inspection Refurbish and
Re-launch
MAV Mission Case Study
MAV Mission Case Study
 Functional Analysis Benefits
It draws out all the requirements of the system

It helps to identify measures for system

effectiveness

It weeds out, through Trade-off studies, those

alternatives that cannot meet the objectives

It provides an insight to system level model

builders, for Trade-off studies
Function Costing
Fault Tree Analysis
 Function, Behavior and
Configuration
Function : what is done?
Behaviour : when, why & how it is done?
Configuration : who does it?
where it is done?

The sequence of actions carried out by people

and machines is called a process, which is
modeled as behaviour
 Function Behaviour and
Configuration
Goal : Intended behavior of the system
What is the system?
Street Intersection Traffic signal
What is the function?
Traffic lights
Regulate traffic
Behaviour?
Interpreting the color of
lights
System analysis?
Simulation of Light ,
heat, power consumption
switching logic etc.
 Water Dispenser Study
User demand Demand signal Water supply

F.1 Sense F.2.1 Open supply F.2.2 Create

demand pressure head

Demand signal Water supply

Pressurized water
User indication
stop supply Fixed rate of water flow

F.2.4 Deliver F.2.3 Control

F.3 Sense stop
water rate of flow
demand

Stop demand Collect water Controlled rate of flow

signal

F.4 Stop supply

No water supply
 Function – Creativity Tool
If Edison had tried to improve the lantern he might
have invented an efficient and fancy lantern. His
question that what else would illuminate area, led
to the invention of electric bulbs

Existing parts can be improved but invention is

possible only by focusing on functions

True innovation is possible only if one questions the

basic existence of the product itself

Using worthwhile functions of the product, new

ways to perform these functions can be identified
 Conclusions
Functional thinking is essential to efficient
system design

Functional design leads to easier estimation of

reliability & cost at the system design stage

Identification of the system elements become

easier with function and functional flow
diagrams