To optimize the conceptual design of a system (or a system of systems), one must choose what to maximize or minimize. Crude approaches minimize weight or cost, but such optimization seldom yields a satisfactory design. For example, the design of a new commercial airliner should find a balance among range, speed, fuel efficiency, cost, reliability, and other considerations.

DFM Consulting's system design value model combines all critical system attributes into a single measure of value, so that the system design that maximizes value strikes the best balance among all the attributes. Design value models are objective functions for design optimization. Including the critical attributes in the system design value model eliminates unnecessary constraints, opening up the design space to many more possibilities.

Optimization will find the best system design if and only if the objective function correctly expresses what best means. System design value models from DFM Consulting capture what makes a system better and best, incorporating the wants and needs of all relevant stakeholders.

System design value models are an essential element of the Value-Driven Design process, which can reduce the cost of large systems by tens of percent while increasing performance and shrinking development schedule.