Axiomatic design is a systems design methodology using matrix methods to systematically analyze the transformation of customer needs into functional requirements, design parameters, and process variables. Specifically, functional requirements (FRs) are related to design parameters (DPs):
The method gets its name from its use of design principles or design Axioms (i.e., given without proof) governing the analysis and decision making process in developing high quality product or system designs. The two axioms used in Axiomatic Design (AD) are:
Axiomatic design is considered to be a design method that addresses fundamental issues in Taguchi methods.
The methodology was developed by Dr. Suh Nam Pyo at MIT, Department of Mechanical Engineering since the 1990s. A series of academic conferences have been held to present current developments of the methodology. The most recent International Conference on Axiomatic Design (ICAD) was the 8th ICAD hosted by the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal in 2014.