Modeling cad performance with Fuzzy Cognitive Map

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) is used to model CAD performance in an engineering consultancy environment by simulating the effects of certain conditions and actions on CAD service quality. A knowledge base of CAD performance is built from expert knowledge that exists in the fuzzy linguistic domain. The knowledge is translated from a qualitative opinion scale to triangular fuzzy numbers ready for computation. It demonstrates that the knowledge captured and represented in a core CAD FCM can be stored and easily extended by the addition of sub-FCMs. Simulation of CAD performance using the FCM revealed its applicability in project management by providing the project manager with a tool to help her identify an optimal approach for dealing with CAD quality issues. It can thus, be an effective tool for engineering management and knowledge base building in an engineering environment.