Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design

Vinicius Kaster Marinia, Leonardo Nabaes Romanob

Technical University of Denmark
a

Federal University of Santa Maria

b

e-mails: [Link]@[Link]; romano@[Link]

Abstract: The competitive demands of the agricultural sector create a push for increasing complexity regarding
customer needs for agricultural machinery. Therefore, systematic and structured approaches become essential
to supporting the development of innovative and effective products. This paper aims to lay out an information
framework towards the understanding of influencing factors within the design specification. The methodology for
this paper comprises: i) review of contributions on engineering design knowledge and agricultural machinery design;
ii) development of the framework supported by a structured representation structure; and iii) use of implementation
examples in displaying the technique. The following conclusions were attained: the influencing factors comprise
relevant characteristics of product lifecycle environments after the production stage; the information model for the
influencing factors is built on classes and attributes which allows selective deployment after project needs; and, the
influencing factors constitute relevant information on the environments the machine is to be designed for, therefore
playing a significant role in the definition of the design specification.

Keywords: influencing factors, machinery design, design specification.

1. Introduction 2. Motivation and aims

Agricultural activities have permanently evolved with We understand there is need for sharpening the
regard to planning and execution, allowing for capacity awareness to the influence of characteristics whose control
increases in production through sensible management. is out of reach for engineers. Focusing on the agricultural
Though such developments influence field productivity, machinery sector, those characteristics do not only interfere
current results can be improved if focus is placed on with product performance, but determine the ability of the
improving operative instruments. Operational complexity product to meet customer demands.
in the crop field has created new demands for information In response to that challenge, we look to improve the
in the agricultural sector (MIALHE, 1996). That will understanding on influencing factors in design and their
certainly require agricultural machines to bring improved role in consolidating the design specification. To serve that
performance and capabilities; those perceived as more objective, this paper shall accomplish the following aims:
robust, reliable and safe will determine future development • presenting a classification of the influencing factors
trends. on agricultural machine design;
To reduce development costs and increase chances of • modeling the process by which information is gath-
market success on product development, there is need to ered and assembled; and
understand customer needs and operational characteristics. • formalizing the influencing factors as subset model
For such reason, the industry needs to take hold of of the design specification.
engineering knowledge in order to drive innovation and
profit. However, a significant portion of the agricultural
3. Research approach
machinery industry is caught in need of capacity to channel Being the aim of this research to provide an operating
available knowledge into innovative designs that better meet framework supporting the definition of influencing factors
customer demands. In order to create such capacity, the in design, the approach used applied both modeling and
use of systematic and structured design approaches would implementation steps towards this goal. Considering those
enable the industry to integrate engineering knowledge in objectives, three approaches were used in this work.
developing new solutions; that would allow companies to For the modeling part, two approaches were employed:
improve their competitiveness by supporting them to bring (a) Exploration research: considering the problem of
out better products. consolidating what role the influencing factors in design

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 111

play in the development process, a state-of-the-art review drill seeder, for instance, the seed and fertilizer hopper
was carried out to support the constitution of fundamentals; capacities, total width, number of rows and row spacing,
and (b) Descriptive research: starting over with the among others, constitute product characteristics; operational
gathered knowledge, the influencing factors in design were characteristics correspond to physical, static or dynamic
characterized and modeled through the definition of the properties of other elements from the product lifecycle
component elements and their inter-relations. environment, specifically related to the use phase: in the
As the theoretical framework was made ready, its same example, working speed, seed spacing, fertilizer
implementation was the logical step to follow. The model dosing, furrow width, among others, influence on the
was implemented under a partnership with an agricultural expected operational performance.
machine manufacturer in which a real machine design was The operation environment comprises how the machines
used as a template for diagnosing the results from using perform in the field. These characteristics interact with
the model. The approach employed in this step is: (c) Case the operation environment in two sections: operations
study: involves applying the new model with a case unit, in management and technical issues (MIALHE, 1996). That
order to evaluate the potential contribution yielded to better environment can be understood as a set of elements that
practice by its usage in the design process. mediate those two sets of characteristics while the machine
is in use, as shown in the Figure 1.
4. Background The first one comprises criteria to following and
Influencing factors in design have been first stated in evaluating the product performance in use: in direct drill
the field of agricultural machinery, within an operational seeding, seeding operation characteristics like crop variety,
point of view, as the set of parameters that influence up to crop season, useful seeding time, working hours and
its performance (CHRISTIANSON; ROHRBACH, 1986). equipment adjustments make up for managing and evaluating
However, that definition needed a statement better specifying the seeder performance. The second involves the physical
its scope, because its original scope overlaps with the broad elements taking part on the operation, whose basic properties
definition of design specification (ULRICH; EPPINGER, can only be controlled from the physical transformation
1995; PAHL; BEITZ, 1996; FONSECA, 2000). Still within that meets the machine purpose: in the seeder again,
that broad scope, the influencing factors in design have been certification standards, field relief, soil properties and field
characterized as taking form of measurements (ROMANO, environment play significant role in determining functional
2003). product performance. Those sections (MIALHE, 1996)
That interpretation meets a quality and certification point- guide the gathering of useful information to establishing
of-view (MIALHE, 1996), by stating they constitute relevant the design specification. However, they cannot be controlled
information for decision-making by the agricultural machine by operators in the field, much less by engineers involved
lifecycle stakeholders. The sentence ‘influencing factors in developing the agricultural machine. Because of that,
in design’ means those factors constitute product lifecycle they have to be fully understood, and designed for, so that
properties that induce specific design considerations in the development efforts yield successful products.
development of the solution. Furthermore, in opposition
of the own product design characteristics that constitute
the design specification (ULRICH; EPPINGER, 1995), Performance
it shall focus on the product lifecycle properties that Services
Product
project members do not have means to control. Therefore, characteristics Specification
the influencing factors in design, if adequately stated in Warranty
measurable way as similar to product design specification Quality
statements, may constitute a partial set of the design
Operation Operations management
specification. environment Technical issues
4.1. Fundamentals
The operation environment (MIALHE, 1996) consists
Capacity
on the interaction between the so-called production
Efficiency
characteristics and the operational characteristics of an Operating
characteristics Reliability
agricultural machine; that characterization applies to the
Adequacy
location where the machine works its intended function.
Safety
Product characteristics correspond to constructive and
physical characteristics and properties of the product, Figure 1. Definition of operating characteristics (MIALHE,
broadly defined within the design specification: in a direct 1996).

112 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 The deliverables yielded by the designing macrophase Product development matters join up with product
(ROMANO et al., 2005) within the joint product/project characterization issues in the introduction environment.
lifecycle consist in information defining how the agricultural It is constituted of the product lifecycle environments the
machine should be manufactured and produced. Among machine shall be designed for, and take place within the
the definitions from the designing macrophase, the usage phase. However, it may include different matters in
necessary materials, their transformation processes, order to enable commercialization in other markets.
finishing, dimensions and assembly are defined for making A seed drill manufacturer wants, for instance, to export
the prototype and further adjustments towards market its machine to other markets. The total width of the machine
delivery. In the seeder example, its hoppers could be made is significantly wider than the available width as regulated
from polyethylene or stainless steel: polyethylene would in the export market. In order to enable the machine to be
determine the usage of roto- or injection-blow-molding; used there, the manufacturer may consider a machine design
sheet metal and bending would better apply to stainless allowing a narrow configuration. That is an example on
steel. Other hopper characteristics determined are: the how influencing factors determine requirements the design
number of and distance between support points, the joints shall meet, therefore playing a significant part the design
employed (nuts and bolts, dovetails or assembly fits), specification.
physical dimensions and useful volume for seed and/or
fertilizer storage. 4.2. State-of-the-art review
Because such characteristics have significant relationship The state-of-the-art review involved two broad knowledge
with the operational performance because of the operation areas: design of mechanical systems, and agricultural
environment, that has a significant relationship with machines and mechanization. While the first area is related
the developed design specification, in two matters: the to engineering design and product development knowledge,
definition of ‘must have’ requirements linked to the the second area characterizes machinery and operations
needs of the product lifecycle stakeholders: in the seeder within the agricultural engineering knowledge scope.
example, the most significant ones are number of rows, Within design of mechanical systems, design specification
row spacing, hopper capacity, furrow width, seed spacing (ULRICH; EPPINGER, 1995; PAHL; BEITZ, 1996),
and distribution; and, the establishment of information and technical systems (HUBKA; EDER, 1992; PAHL;
on the product lifecycle environments, especially after BEITZ, 1996) were considered as top-level topics to guide
manufacturing and delivery: for the seed drill, significant the exploration research. Those topics were examined
characteristics in this scope are terrain relief, soil type, using two knowledge sections as criteria: design metrics
and crop system (dry crop, flooded crop or cattle/crop comprise the definition of design specification information
integration, for instance), among others. as translating the needs of stakeholders on product lifecycle
Considering all those elements, Figure 2 shows the phases to specification and configuration properties of a
influencing factors as resulting from the interaction between developing system (FONSECA; 2000); and, information
operation environment and product lifecycle. modeling involves the structuring and systematization on
gathering and processing information within an enterprise
modeling approach (BERIO; VERNADAT, 1999). Those
contributions supported defining a representation structure
Lifecycle phases Physical elements
Project lifecycle after production Operational derived from the reference model for the agricultural
of the operation
Product lifecycle and delivery
environment environment machinery development process (RM-AMDP) (ROMANO
Product Product
et al., 2005).
development characterization It opens up product development knowledge to integrate
with operation, field and machine characterization as
from agricultural engineering knowledge, as shown in the
Introduction
environment
Figure 3.
Considering specific agricultural engineering knowledge
on machines and mechanization for agriculture, two top
Physical characteristics level topics were used as guidance: agricultural mechanics
of the introduction
Influencing factors in
environment that (MIALHE, 1996) characterizing basic structures and field
design of agricultural performance; and, specific operations management for
influence upon the
machines
design definition of the agriculture (MIALHE, 1974).
agricultural machine
Two knowledge sections were used as criteria: machines
Figure 2. Influencing factors as interaction between develop- and performance, following research on field performance
ment and characterization (MARINI, 2007). testing of machinery, their description based upon brief

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 113

 Mechanical 1993) to representing processes. The representation structure
Information systems design Design for the RM-AMDP is implemented within a spreadsheet
modeling (Product metrics model with a unified visual layout of all information sets,
development)
to be read as shown in Table 1.
Technical Design
In reading the spreadsheet format, the following
systems specification information stands out in each column: inputs comprise
information that results from a concluded process, formerly
executed; activities describe the current process in terms
RM-AMDP: of project breakdown structure; tasks describe the project
Influencing function to be carried out within current activities; domains
factors in
design
describe the corporate knowledge competences required to
carry out the task; mechanisms suggest tools, approaches
or methods that can be used to gather and build up the
Agricultural Agricultural intended information; controls suggest approaches, methods
mechanization mechanics or documents used to validate the achieved information
towards achieving activity goals; and, outputs describe the
Machines and resulting consolidated information to be used on further
Operations mechanization Machines and
management (Agricultural performance tasks to proceed with the development project (ROMANO
engineering) et al., 2005).

Figure 3. Knowledge areas supporting the fundamentals of 5. Definition of influencing factors

influencing factors in design. The consolidated model for defining the influencing
factors in design has four core sections and two satellite
sections. The core sections are those where the influencing
characterization of structures and components, and their factors are directly gathered and processed to support the
influence on improving crop results (…); with regard to design process; satellite sections are those that should be
operations management, a review was made on factors to referenced while working the influencing factors or should
determine operational efficiency and crop yield, looking to directly reference the influencing factors in following the
follow best practice on mechanized operations to improve design process.
management of the crop growth process. This paper focuses on the core sections of the information
In addition to that, a third area explored comprised model for the influencing factors: the development
research works applying engineering design knowledge scope section, the operation characteristics section, the
to developing innovative agricultural machinery, such as certification requirements section and the current machines
the precision seed meter (REIS, 2003) and a precision- section. Table 2 shows the information sections and their
agriculture prepared line-feed fertilizer distributor original references in the RM-AMDP (ROMANO, 2003).
(MENEGATTI, 2004). Those works evidenced the The process of gathering information to define design
application of engineering design knowledge to develop new guidelines to developing the agricultural machine shall
technical solutions in agricultural machinery, and could be include establishing the influencing factors (MARINI
evolved by augmentation of current tools. An example is the et al., 2006). They can be divided in four main information
introduction of a safety focus on current engineering design sections. That division is made in following each main unit
tools, relating engineering design knowledge to performance to determine the origin of influencing factors: development
and safety regulations (ALONÇO, 2004). scope, certification requirements, operation characteristics,
and current machines in the target market (MARINI,
4.3. Information representation structure 2007). These classes have been derived from aligning the
Considering the process to gather information on RM-AMDP proposition with existing knowledge on both
influencing factors in design, an information model areas covered by the state-of-the-art review, as shown in
definition should serve the purpose of making the process the Figure 3.
explicit, i.e., one should know how it is done from observing
a given representation. A graphic representation structure
5.1. Information sections and the product lifecycle
has been proposed in supporting that goal (ROMANO et al., Each of these sections is related to both product and
2005). The process modeling for the influencing factors in project lifecycles, as their information applies to both
design does employ a fundamental structure based upon contexts. For that reason, they can be characterized on how
considerations from the IDEF0 functional model (NIST, broad and useful they apply to gathering the influencing

114 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 Phase 3 - Conceptual design
Inputs Activities Tasks Domains Mechanisms Controls Outputs

Phase exit To communicate the To communicate the design PM E-mail Communications Communication of
approval form start of conceptual specifications approval to the management plan design
design phase product development te specifications
approval
To call the product development PM E-mail Product development Call for 1st
te for 1st conceptual design te member list meeting
phase meeting with the purpose
of presenting the project plan

Project plan To update budget PM, AF Cash flow Development budget Cost estimates
needs S chart
Call for 1st To undertake te To present the updated project PM, All Product Project activities list Presented project
meeting orientation and activities list development plan
Design present the updated To present the new product PM te meeting Product development
specifications project plan development te members te member list
Updated project
plan To present the updated PM, All Project development
Project development schedule schedule
Documentation
System To clarify doubts, fine-tune PM, All Project plan
project details and to close the
meeting
Project plan To execute project To provide resources for project PM Development budget Physical and
Cost estimates plan activities plan execution financial resources
Marketing To monitor market To monitor market needs MK Market survey Product, market and Marketing planning
planning variations which may technology strategies
influence the design
concept development To update the marketing plan MK Marketing Product, market and
planning technology strategies

To enclose the marketing plan PM Project Quality management

with the project documantation documentation plan
system system Communications
management plan
Client/user To establish the To define the overall (purpose) PD Oriented Design-influencing Overall function
requirements functional structure function abstraction factors
Design To establish (deploy) PD Functional structure Design requirements Alternate
requirements subfunctions and alternate deployment functional
Influencing functional structures directives structures
factors
To define third-party PD, SU Expert judgment Core competences Third-party
developed subfunctions developed
subfunctions
To identify, select and involve PD, SU Expert judgment Third-party Involved
third-parties for the development invitation for bid, involvement strategy thirdparties
of subfunction solution request for quotation,
principles request for proposal,
invitation for
negotiation and
contractor initial
response

To analyze and select the PD Decision matrix for Design requirements Functional
suitable functional structure selection structure
To enclose the activity PM Project Quality management Involved
informations to the project documentation plan thirdparties
documentation system system Communications Functional
management plan structure

Table 1. Functional elements from RM-AMDP representation structure (ROMANO et al., 2004).

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 115

 Influencing factors in design – RM-AMDP
Input Activity Task Domain Mechanism Control Output
Development scope To define the Analyze the PD Expert judgment Marketing
Influencing
declaration; influencing factors development 1 planning factors in the
Work breakdown in the design of the scope declaration design of the
structure (WBS); agricultural and the work agricultural
1st competitive machine breakdown machine
benchmarking on structure
current machines Analyze the 1st PD Benchmarking Market
competitive restrictions
benchmarking 2
on current
machines
Consider MK, PD, Expert judgment Law and
necessary QU, AF standards
regulatory 3
requirements
to enable
production and
commercialization
Define experimental PD, QU, Certification
and/or inspection DP standards
procedures needed
for certifying
conformity to
required regulations
Identify required items PD, QU, Government
to certifying and DP laws to
homologating the homologation
machine
Identify safety SY, QU Safety law and
standards related to standards
the developing design

Gather information MK, Experiments Work break-

on agricultural PD, DP (simulation, lab, down structure
4
operation field tests) (WBS)
(mechanical Studies
and agronomic (evaluations,
parameters) case studies,
field tests)
Records
(operation controls,
maintenance,
warranty history)

Add the influencing PM Project Quality

factors in design to documentation management
the project system plan
documentation Communication
system management
plan

Table 2. Influencing factors in design: original RM-AMDP prescription (ROMANO et al., 2004).

116 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

factors in design on through the agricultural machine benchmarking study is made on machines with similar
lifecycle. Figure 4 characterizes how the influencing factors purpose, looking to compare construction parameters to
in design apply to both product and project lifecycles in the bring significant contribution to knowing what and how
development of agricultural machinery. to design. On feedstock distributors, for instance, other
The development scope analysis has global influence machines are compared so that to figure out the options
in the agricultural machine development because its available to the customer in the market, how they perform
information determines the essential characteristics of and what costs they require. The certification requirements
the machine. That comprises defining the purpose of the category involves the lookup and processing of information
machine as well as its main working features: a fertilizer on criteria from client markets whose satisfaction provides
spreader, besides of just spreading plant nutrition, may clearance so that the manufacturer can sell the machine. An
have to provide even metering independent of speed, allow example for this is the set of certification requirements set
different fertilizers to be used, enable distribution at different by the European Commission in order to award a machine
field relieves, and so on. In order to achieve such attributes, the CE mark, therefore authorizing its commercialization
different working principles shall be designed to carry out in markets within the European Union.
the required functions. Because of that, they also define
the direction to be taken in gathering information on the 6. Modeling the data
other categories. The modeling approach used to define the influencing
The analysis of operation characteristics comprises factors in design on their components and inter-relations
looking at physical field characteristics that determine took the following objectives into account: a) to make
working parameters for the operation the machine is to explicit the lifecycle elements to be characterized and the
perform. That requires analyzing the field and its main relevant information types that make part of the model;
characteristics: significant issues for the fertilizer spreader and b) to provide guidance on the procedures to be carried
are field relief, crop growth stage, row spacing, field out, from the definition of information requirements for
area, climate and others. Functionality and adjustments their processing. Figure 5 shows the basic hierarchy of
shall be provided in the machine so that it will cope with information within the proposed model for influencing
the field environment while achieving its performance factors in design.
requirements. The representation structure of the RM-AMDP has
The analysis of current machines comprises gathering been used as main template to support the data modeling
the existing knowledge on theory and current solutions process. Each section, following the content from Table 2,
for meeting the design scope initially defined. A design constitutes a basic set of information, which is deployed

Planning Designing Implementation

Project Informational Conceptual Preliminary Detailed Pilot Project Project

Launch
planning design design design design production validation lifecycle
Information
Gathers introduction environment
gathering
Planning Development Production

Development scope
Determines scope of factors
Influencing Distribution
Certification
factors in
requirements
design
Recovery
Current
products
Product
lifecycle Operation
Usage characteristics
Back to development scope

Figure 4. Representation of influencing factors on product and project lifecycle (MARINI, 2007).

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 117

according to the proposed hierarchy according to its because they can be processed as qualities (attributes
respective knowledge. Each section is deployed in classes, of an element) or specifications (measurable properties
and those in properties. Such properties come from the of an element) as seen by engineers. In modeling the
lifecycle environments when the machine is introduced to influencing factors information, two approaches are used:
its operation environment. deploying the sections onto properties that are described
They are fundamental instructions that guide the and characterized as qualitative or quantitative, depending
processing of information for the influencing factors, on their characteristics, as in Table 3; and, building a task
dependency model to display the information and resource
requirements for gathering the influencing factors, which
Influencing factors is displayed in the Table 4.
in design In deploying the sections, each element of the structure
Section model is identified by a sequential code number, where each
Class Attribute, character identifies the subject (section, class, property).
Property specification Each lifecycle element from the introduction environment
Figure 5. Influencing factors in design: Information hierar- related to a given section is defined as a class.
chy. Properties constitute the basic units within the
information model. Their processing is then understood as
a function in the generic form.
Axx Axxx The description presents the information Each subject is then described on the communicating
[Section, class] [Section, communicated (referred by verb) and the
Class class, subject of that information (referred by noun). action, and on described characteristic. Subject
name property] Information on an influencing [“a”] characterization is then described as qualitative [“a”] – to
Property factor in qualitative describe attributes – or quantitative [++] – to describe
Attribute, auqlity
description form
Information on an influencing
specifications. The attributes shown can also be defined as
[++]
factor presented in quantitative Specification measurements. The functional task model for the influencing
measurement form factors information follows the representation structure from
Information on an influencing
[“a”] → [++] the RM-AMDP, hereby formerly mentioned.
factor in qualitative form to be
derived towards
Attribute → The inputs consist of consolidated information, which is
Specification already known and has been recorded from carrying out other
quantitative form
activities within the same project, or similar activities from
Table 3. Influencing factors in design: Basic structure for sec- other projects. Properties are characteristics of an element or
tion deployment.

Axx Input Property Domain Mechanism Control Output

Input Axx1 XX Tool, method Validation [”a”]
information Typical or practice to information Qualitative
dimensions obtain Axx1 for Axx1 information
and Axx2 only about Axx1
properties
Validation
information
Axx2 XX, YY for Axx1 [++]
Obstacles to and Axx2 Quatitative
traffic and information
Class name

displacement about Axx2

Tool, method Validation

or practice to information
obtain Axx2 for Axx2
only only
Input ... ... ... ... ...
information
Axxn ZZ Tool, method [”a”] → [++]
Obstacle or practice to Qualitative to
dimensions obtain Axxn quantitative
only definition for
Axxn

Table 4. Basic structure of task model and information dependencies for the influencing factors.

118 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

a set of elements within the scope of a given class. Domains factors to affect its development and on the links with its
follow the corporate competence areas as defined in the conceptual design definition. That machine has also been
RM-AMDP, directly involved in carrying out the task. analyzed with regard to its functional concept, which has
Mechanisms comprise resources, tools or methods used been declared in overall level and structurally deployed in
to processing the input information. Controls are similar functional chains (MARINI; ROMANO, 2007). The focus
resources to mechanisms whose role is to validate the here is to show how the information model has been built
processed information according to given task objectives. and implemented, in order to gather and display what are
And, outputs are information to constitute the whole set of the factors that matter to orienting further design efforts.
influencing factors in design, in the form of attributes or The model implementation is hereby demonstrated in
specifications, that could compose the design specification one class per section, where each class is described in its
along with customer needs or design requirements, elements and their data inputs, then shown in its case study
respectively. implementation.
The resulting information in the case study examples is
7. Influencing factors: implementation shown following the task model of the influencing factors in
The information model has been successfully built design, as displayed in Table 4. Many inputs for the model
following the data modeling directives as defined in the were collected following product test reports, as well as from
representation structure for the RM-AMDP. This topic input given by engineers in the academy and industry, and
has two parallel threads: it shows the dependency network were then organized following the dependencies shown.
among the information in performing the analyses of the
influencing factors in design; and, it provides structural
7.1. Development scope example
examples from selected information classes within the The development scope analysis constitutes the first
model, implemented in a case study. That exercise focuses information section of the influencing factors. Most of
on using the model to identify influencing factors in design its information comes directly from the project scope
for a machine whose purpose is to perform an agricultural definition, to be carried out in the planning phase, as shown
operation. by Figure 6. Those influencing factors are fundamental
The chosen machine is a centrifugal fertilizer spreader, because they determine all other lifecycle and design issues
whose design has been analyzed on the possible influencing to be considered and dealt with during the design process.

Information from project planning

Certification
Crop system
standards
Marketing
planning
Market Operating Justification
characteristics process and restrictions
Project
Development Noise & scope
partners limits Product
description
Development Power
suppliers requirements
Project
stakeholders Project Project
Stakeholder structuring structure
Subsystems
relationships

Information
Project type
needs

Classes for analyzing the development scope

Figure 6. Information links to development scope classes.

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 119

The inputs for the classes in the development scope section crop season shall be defined. Other important matters are:
come mainly from the project planning macrophase, where the infra-structure (row-crop, orchard, grassland, etc.) used
items such as marketing planning, project scope, project to maintain and grow the crops; and, the crop management
stakeholders and project structure play a significant role technique, which determines crop growth practices (direct
in providing guidance to defining how the development seeding, minimal tillage or conventional). Finally, the
scope influences upon the design and development of the intended agricultural operation shall be declared following
agricultural machine. This section comprises the following the step from the crop growth process where the machine
classes: crop system, operating processes, noise and limits, shall operate. Information appearing on mechanism refers
power requirements, subsystems, and project type. to data sources, while controls refer to information already
The crop system class (Table 5 at right) comprises elaborated within the project.
properties related to the crop species, the step the machine The operating process is the second class within the
performs and how the crop is maintained, among others. development scope section for the influencing factors in
There, the first property describes the markets for design. It has the role of guiding the collection of data related
commercializing the machine; the crop species focus and the to operational characteristics the machine shall meet. The

A11 Input Property Domain Mechanism Control Output

Project A111 AF, MK Project Business [”a”]
justification and Intended documentation strategy Identifies locations whose
restrictions markets system plan agricultural production
(A931) constitutes consumer
markets
Market offer A112 PD, MK Field research Product [”a”]
characteristics Species of description Identifies the plant
(A913) interest (A932) species the machine shall
be designed for
Cultivation-
A113 Field research climate [”a”]
Crop season zoning Identifies the crop
(A111) season and its span, for
Intended the species of interest
markets

Specialized
literature
A114 PD, MK Specialized (A111) [”a”]
Crop system

Crop literature Intended Characterizes how the

configuration Field research markets plants settle up in the
Species of crop field
interest
(A112)
Vital crop
cycle
(A113)
A115 PD, MK Machine (A111) [”a”]
Crop inspection Intended Characterizes the
technique Specialized markets practice system to
literature Agronomic prepare and implement
Field research prescription crops
documents

A116 Crop [”a”]

Agricultural process Identifies briefly the
operation stages action the machine
(A112) performs on the crop
Species of
interest
Vital crop
cycle
(A113)

Table 5. Task model for crop system class.

120 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

noise & limits class has the purpose of defining the elements research is strongly indicated to gather further information
and circumstances that may affect product quality, either on those items.
by controlling the machine (the agents) or by taking part of
the operation (the environment). The power requirements 7.2. Operation characteristics example
class shall define the way the machine is to be dependent on The operation characteristics class describes the field
power, in terms of self-supply, autonomy, capacity, coupling environment where the machine is going to work on. Its
and basic definitions on load regimes. The subsystems input information comes mostly from the development
class shall guide the development process by assigning scope class, as in Figure 8, because it has already determined
different roles to subsystems, namely: overall system, crop which types of field and crop are going to be attended by the
processing, power transmission and operation control. And, machine under development. The operation characteristics
the project type class influences on development priorities class has the purpose of further specifying the field
by specifying knowledge level, system complexity and characteristics, so that to provide clear guidance on field
organizational risk of failure. environment characteristics that may determine whether a
An implementation example of the crop system class is developing design is fit to certain customer needs within a
shown on Table 6. given market sector. This section comprises the following
The example on crop system properties shows the classes: climate and environment, soil, plant, agents, field
crop system class and its properties, following the section and coupling.
deployment structure. In addition to the information The field class (Table 9) comprises properties related
field, an extra description field has been added in order to to the physical field configuration in typical overall
allow providing extra information on the given property. dimensions, row spacing and inline curvature, as well as
Information for implementing the model shall be collected obstacles and field maneuvering section characteristics.
on the project documentation system where available. In first place there is need to understand typical physical
However, most of them shall be collected from specialized dimensions of fields the machine shall attend to in terms of
sources with focus on crop growth and management. Field area, length and corner angles.

Class Property Info Description

A11 A111 South Rio Grande do Sul, southern and
Crop Intended nortwestern Santa Catarina, Paraná
system markets Southeast São Paulo, Minas Gerais
→→
Center-west Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul,
Goiás, Tocantins
Northeast Western Bahia, southern Maranhão,
southern Piauí
A112 Annual grain Winter and summer harvesting seasons:
Species of crops Soyabeans, Maize, Wheat, Rice, Beans,
interest Barley, Oat, Sorghum, Sunflower, Rape,
Cotton
A113 Winter September to November
Crop Depend on regional agricultural-climate
season zoning as from technical prescriptions
Summer
April to June
A114 Row-crop Small and medium-sized plants, short
Crop arrangement spacing between plants and narrow
configuration spacing between plant rows
A115 Conventional Seeding after soil tillage by inversion and
Crop displacement, without plant cover
technique Minimum Seeding after soil tillage by soil shearing,
tillage with plant cover
Direct Combination of shallow soil shearing and
seeding seeding, with plant cover
A116 Distribution of Minaral fertilizers and correctors, powdery,
Agricultural crop nutrition/ grain and cristaline
operation correction

Table 6. Implementation example on crop system properties.

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 121

 Likely obstacles to machine traffic and displacement shall They restrict the options to follow in designing the
be then described in their characteristics and dimensions. machine because they state determined characteristics
Following on, row-crop spacing is another important matter required by law and regulation bodies to enable selling the
to determine basic dimensions for the machine, such as machine on the intended markets by homologation. Meeting
wheel track and tire width. Inline curvature is important as these requirements also improves legal safety because of
to determine the degree of maneuverability and accuracy covering lawsuit risks on the case of accidents with damages
needed from other machine systems, such as the header to real estate, environment, and human injury. The section
assembly in a combine harvester. The field maneuvering comprises the classes: coupling and physical dimensions,
property describes the space available in row-crop heads process requirements, control requirements and safety
for turning. requirements.
The soil class is the second within the operation The coupling and physical dimensions class describes the
characteristics section for the influencing factors in design. standards and specifications that define specific requirements
It has the role of guiding the collection of data related to to designing the coupling interfaces of the machine with
soil characteristics of locations where the machine shall other implements or specific dimensions the machine
operate, if they affect operational performance. The plant must meet for its sale to be enabled on the target market
class has the purpose of gathering the information on the covered by that requirement. The process requirements class
specific crop plants that may affect operational efficiency describes practices, methods and specifications to be met
and performance, which the machine has to be designed so to ensure proper quality and performance in meeting the
for. requirements from target markets; the control requirements
The crop agents class describes nutrition/protection agents class brings on standards and specifications requiring
the machine may distribute, work with, or be exposed to. specific control measures, devices or configurations to be
The field class works on characterizing the operation field, used in order to ensure operational performance.
its topography and configuration. And, the coupling class The safety requirements class (Table 7) comprises
properties related the document sources and their geographic
shall describe available coupling configuration properties
levels, the organizations responsible for the document, the
from other machines the developing design shall be designed
standard identification and the sections and statements that
for to adequately couple with.
create safety requirements the machine under development
An implementation example of the field class within
shall be designed for. The example shows up the standards
the operation characteristics is shown on Table 10. That
information in a broad scope, beginning with the document
example follows the section deployment structure, defining
origin and the responsible organization. Information
the property in the info column and making a further
appearing on mechanism refers to data sources inside and
specification in the description column.
outside the project scope, while controls refer to information
The typical field dimensions, like width, length and slope
already elaborated within the project.
are the first to be described. Obstacles and their dimensions Then the standards are cited in their designations and
are worked in the next step, being generally described on scope, on whether it is a method, practice, definition,
their constitution and dimensions. Thos dimensions can be specification, and where, in the agricultural machine design,
first estimated to be further evaluated through filed research. it applies.
That also applies to field layout characteristics, such as A further level of specification on certification standards
inter-row spacing, inline row curvature and head maneuver is to declare the statements making requirements the machine
dimensions. Here, most of them can be approached with is to be designed for, to be collected from the document text
a first estimation, but shall be further specified by using body. Other two properties shall be considered: the access
geographic information systems on sample fields. safety scope comprises characteristics and dimensions the
7.3. Certification requirements example machine has in protecting the user/operator from moving
part hazards; the information safety scope characterizes on
The certification requirements constitute the third whether signs and instructions are visible and adequate in
information section for the influencing factors in design of order to avoid safety hazards in the machine.
agricultural machinery. The development scope provides An implementation example of the safety requirements
significant guidance on the information to look for about class is shown on Table 8. That example follows the section
certification requirements, as shown by the information deployment structure. In addition to the information field,
links representation on Figure 7. The purpose for carrying an extra description field has been added to provide more
out analyses on this class is to gather statements in technical information.
standards and regulations that influence on designing the The intended market may require the agricultural machine
physical configuration of the machine. to be in conformity with different standards from a number

122 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 Information from development scope

Intended Climate and

markets environment
Crop season
Crop growth
Soil
system Noise &
Crop system limits
Environment
Crop species Plant elements

Crop
Agents
structure
Process
situation
Power Operation
Field
requirements autonomy Operation
process
Power Processed
Coupling
transmission elements

Classes for analyzing operation characteristics

Figure 7. Influencing factors: Information links to operation characteristics classes.

A25 Input Property Domain Mechanism Control Output

(A111) A251 MK, PD Maps Crop field [++] (m, ha)
Intended Typical field analyses characteristics Identifies the physical
markets dimensions Geographic dimensions of the crop
Crop information field.
configuration A252 MK, PD systems Operation [”a”] → [++] (m)
(A114) Obstacles to Field research risks (A136) Identifies the crop field
traffic and (A231) crop or the local fraffic
displacement growth stage characteristics that
(S227) restrict machine
Surface relief dimensions.
A253 Field research (A112) [++] (cm, m)
Obstacle Species of Identifies the height or
dimensions interest depth of displacement
Specialized
(A115) Crop or traffic obstacles.
literature
Field

technique
Expert
A254 MK, PD judgment (A112) [++] (m)
Inter-row Species of Identifies the
spacing interest transverse spacing
Agronomic
Physical between crop rows.
prescription
dimensions
documents
(A25)
A255 MK, PD Field research Crop [++] (m)
Inline row Geographic technique Identifies the typical
curvature information (A115) curvature radius of
systems Typical field machine displacement
Site-specific dimensions inline with crop rows.
management (A251)
A256 [++] (m)
Head Identifies dimensions
maneuver of maneuvering space
dimensions within the crop field

Table 7. Task model for field class properties.

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 123

 Class Property Info Description
A25 A251 Delimited Up to 1200 ha per delimited field in southern
Field Typical field crop area and southeastern regions (Brazil); up to 5000 ha
→→ dimensions per delimited in center-western and
northeastern regions.
Length Varies on the area: use GIS tools in field areas
with typical layout in the region.
Width Varies on the area: verify geographical
information ion typical field areas.
A252 Height: Porches, electrical networks, viaducts, entry
Obstacles to Civil works gates in outdoor and storage buildings, among
traffic and others.
displacement Width: Roads with frequent traffic of civil vehicles or
Transit ways authority fiscalization.
Length: Area restrictions to maneuvering in field crops
Maneuvering or civil construction in the property.
heads
A253 Height Up to 3,50 m (estimated).
Obstacle Width Up to 3,20 m (with authorization, estimated).
dimensions
Length Up to 10 m (estimated).
A254 Varies depending See specific agronomic prescriptions for better
Inter-row on crop species information. Typical range estimate is between
spacing 50 cm and 1,5 m.
A255 Displacement Varies on area geometry: use geographic
Inline row radius the information tools and site-specific
curvature machine moves management in typical areas.
A256 Available area for Varies on area geometry: use geographic
Head making row head information tools and site-specific
maneuver maneuvers management in typical areas.
dimensions Estimating 5 m to maneuvering for inverting
row crop displacement.

Table 8. Implementation example on field properties.

Information from development scope

Processing Process
subsystems requirements
Process
elements
Control
Subsystems
subsystems
Crop Operating
Control operation process
Transmission requirements
subsystems
Process
situation
Operation
authonomy
Safety Elementos
requirements operadores
Power Transmission Noise and
requirements principles limits
Environment
elements
Power supply
source Coupling and
dimensions

Classes for defining certification requirements

Figure 8. Influencing factors: information links to certification requirements classes.

124 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 A34 Input Property Domain Mechanism Control Output

Certification A341 AF, SY, (A111) Identifies the original

requirements Document PD Field research Intended location from the
(A912) origin markets normative statement
Product
A342 Project Identifies the
description Document
Document documentation organization that issued
(A932) origin (A311)
issuer system the document
ISO 3339
designation
A343
(A121) Crop
Technical
Operation configuration
regulation
autonomy (A114)
(A141) Project Operating Identifies the document
Transmission documentation agents designation code
principles system (A132)
Safety requirements

(A144) Operating
Coupling types risks (A135)
(A147)
Technical A344 Process
PD, SY
regulation Mandatory situation
(A313) features (A114) Identifies
Operation recommandations or
description requirements on design
Local market (A125) features for the machine
law Operating
Local market risks (A135)
jurisprudence
Technical A345 Operating Identifies requirements
Technical
regulation Access agents to accessing hazardous
standards
(A343) safety (A131) locations in the machine
Normative
Mandatory Environment
A346 decrees
features (A344) elements
Information Expert
judgment (A132) Identifies requirements
safety Available for information on
operating hazardous locations in
time (A134) the machine
Operating
risks (A135)

Table 9. Task model for safety requirements.

of technical bodies. That information shall be described in In total, that section has nine classes. The first class
the first two properties, so the requirement statements can analyzes the physical dimensions of existing products in
be further described in terms of the evident documentation. the intended market. The power generation class evaluates
Here, the documentation is described in general terms, the attributes the machine has on power generation, and its
where in practice the declaration of documented statements ability to supply the necessary energy to the operation. The
is encouraged wherever possible. power transmission class analyzes the power transmission
system and its characteristics of power delivery to
7.4. Current products evaluation: proposition performing the agricultural task; the coupling class describes
coupling configurations and their attributes. Two classes
The current products evaluation involves gathering
work on comparing operational capacity in terms of supply
information about the existing competitive machines within
and processing capacity, respectively. The three last classes
the market sector as defined by the development scope. The
have the purpose of analyzing and comparing performance
purpose of adding this section to the influencing factors in among the existing machines. Such work involves thorough
design is to compare properties from current machines that benchmarking between existing products in a given market
the intended customer can opt for as guidance to defining the profile. The Table 11 shows the task model proposition for
degree of scale and the functionality features the developing the supply capacity class.
design shall have. The comparative analysis shall focus on The task model provides foundation for the procedure to
the subsystem level, and shall consider all other information collecting the relevant information on the influencing factors
sections containing influencing factors in design. in design related to the current products in the market. The

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 125

 Class Property Info Description

A34 A331 Switzerland Intrernational geographic level

Safety Document
origin Brazil Internal market level
requirements
→→ A332 ISO International Standardization
Organização Organization
emissora ABNT/NBR Brazilian Association for Technica
Standards
NR/MTb Brazilian Government - Ministry for
Job Relations - Regulation Norms
A333 ISO 4254-1 Tractors and machines for agriculture
Norma and forestry - safety: general
declarante requirements.
ISO 4254-9 Tractors and machines for agriculture
and forestry - safety: Technical
measures to ensure safety, Part 9:
Seeding and crop nutrition distribution
equipment.
ISO 12140 Agricultural machinery - trailed
equipment - drawbar coupling.
NBR 11380 Tractors and agricultural implements:
safety protection for PTO shaft -
method.
NR-31 Regulation norm for health and safety:
job safety on agriculture, feedstock,
forestry, and aquaculture.

Table 10. Implementation example on safety requirements.

Development scope information

Subsystems Supply Agricultural

capacity operation
subsystems
Processing

Physical
Power supply
dimensions

Process
capacity Processed Operating
elements process
Transmission
subsystems

Power
generation
Power Transmission
requirements principles Process
performance
Transmission
subsystems

Power Process
transmission situation

Safety
performance
subsystems
Control

Operation
Coupling
authonomy

Control Operating Noise and

performance agents limits

Current products evaluation classes

Figure 9. Influencing factors: information links to current products classes.

126 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 A45 Input Property Domain Mechanism Control Output
Agricultural A451 PD, MK (A112) Species
operation Supplied of interest [”a”]
(A116) elements Elements: Identifies the
(A122) plant (A235) elements to be
Processed agente (A241) processed by the
elements Properties machine
(A134) (A234, A244)
Available time Dimensions
processing A452
Machine and values
subsystem Supply
analyses (A315, A316)
(A152) capacities
Benchmarking Dimensions
Reverse (A412, 413, 414) [++] (kg, dm3)
engineering (A442) Power- Identifies the
supplied action capacity dimensions
Mass (A411) available to provide
(A213) Slope the processed
Penetration elements
resistance (A224)
Typical field
Supply capacity

dimensions
(A251)
Processing A453 PD, MK Elements:
Machine [++] (n)
subsystem Element plant (A235)
analyses Identifies the
(A152) variety agent (A241)
Benchmarking number of elements
Supplied Number of
Reverse to be supplied
elements settings (A444)
engineering simultaneously
(A451) Variety of settings
(A447)
Control A454 PD, DP (A442) Power- [++] (n)
subsystem Rate supplied action Identifies the
(A154) adjustment Variety of number of
(A441) elements (A453) adjustments to
Machine determine
Transmission Control
analyses supply rates
subsystem (A335, A336)
Benchmarking
Supplied Evaluation
A455 Reverse
elements parameters
Supply rate engineering
(A451) (A326) [++] (kg/s, dm3/s)
Product
testing Adjustments Identifies the supply
(A425, A447) rate of agricultural
(A445) Speed elements on through
range the process
Storage capacity
(A452)

Table 11. Task model for supply capacity.

properties consider common traits of existing machinery performance and environment variables determining product
in important performance parameters to defining design success have been called ‘design specification’ under
specifications for the product currently under development. engineering design knowledge (ANDREASEN; HEIN,
Most of the mechanisms specified in the task model can be 1987; ULRICH; EPPINGER, 1995) the same variables
carried out in the process by specifying the adequate resources were called ‘influencing factors’ under the agricultural
for the procedures. They shall be executed in order to compare engineering domain when referring to design and
the target performance for the current development and the
development of agricultural machinery (CHRISTIANSON;
performance yielded by the current products.
ROHRBACH, 1986). Even though the latter definition
8. Discussion appears in a publication on design, it could be characterized
as applying an analysis focus as opposed to the synthesis
8.1. Influencing factors and design specification focus often declared in engineering design. The first step for
This discussion has been derived in principle by the mending fences between both domains on such definitions
discovery of different terms with similar scope. Whereas is to make clear the scope to which they apply.

Vol. 7 nº 2 December 2009 Product: Management & Development 127

 A starting point has been made under the definition of nevertheless needed on what the influencing factors are, in
the RM-AMDP (ROMANO et al., 2005). That contribution order not to lose pace with practice.
proposed considering both areas to take advantage of From the experience on the case study, it is possible
engineering design knowledge to developing agricultural to say that gathering information on influencing factors in
machinery. Its definition for influencing factors is seen design is somehow similar to the process of building the
here as taking support from the original in the agricultural design specification. Because of that nature, it was possible
engineering domain. However, it rethinks its scope in using to achieve the process representation of the influencing
primary definitions from product characterization toward factors in a task model form. If the product documentation
testing and certification (MIALHE, 1996). system can provide most of the information used as controls,
If the making of design specifications is underpinned the same does not happen when considering the necessary
on considering the needs of stakeholders in the product resources for carrying out the activity.
lifecycle during product development (FONSECA; 2000), Under support from engineers with significant experience
the influencing factors may come as a complementary on practices about design and evaluation of agricultural
definition. When considering the propositions on influencing machinery, engineering practices (tools and techniques)
factors in design of agricultural machinery (ROMANO, were sought and evaluated on their applicability towards
2003, MARINI, 2007), those factors constitute a subset gathering information on the influencing factors in design.
of the design specification when translated to quantitative The results of such work are seen mainly on the task models
information. Therefore, it is possible to envision the role for gathering the influencing factors in design, whose
of influencing factors in defining the design specification. samples are brought up in this paper. The tools are divided
If they can be transformed in quantitative information, in four resource groups: a) surveyance; b) agronomical;
they also can be turned into design requirements, as it c) design; and d) management. Surveyance tools measure
happens with customer needs, within a context shown in field dimensions and characteristics to their usage in
Figure 10. agriculture; agronomical tools prescribe how to keep and
Because the operations management scope comprises manage crop cycles, from seeding to harvest; design tools
knowledge and practice employed to carrying out agricultural prescribe ways to translate specialized information into
operations and decision-making in crop management, it useful design input; and, management tools are those related
significantly determines the definition of customer needs to to ensuring the development project keeps on track with its
those the agricultural machine is supposed to attend. That goals. Table 12 shows design resources as a sample.
also applies when the performance of technical resources is The specification of those resources supports improving
associated to demands from operations management; such current development process by its systematic character,
information shall be mostly interpreted as customer needs. which can be improved with the discovery of new
If technical issues on operation environment and resources approaches and tools to carrying out the tasks to gathering
are considered alone, they mostly induce the definition of information on the influencing factors.
influencing factors in design. Because there is awareness about those resources in
industry, it is possible to implement such improvements
8.2. Influencing factors towards practice in short time. Where similar procedures are employed in
While the proposed contribution has an eminent practice, the structuring and systematization of the process
theoretical character, some considerations are needed to supports improvements on increasing the certainty of the
make it fit into a practical framework. Some discussion is information towards the definition of design requirements
within the design specification. Such implementation
guidelines can also be augmented by method innovations
Operation
environment inside industry, to improve the degree of specification that
the design requirements carry to the design process.
Structures
Management
Crop agents
Plant
Technical Operations Strategy 9. Conclusions
issues management Knowledge
Soil
Learning
The models for classifying and gathering the influencing
Environment factors in design are composed in sections, classes and
Design
properties. The information classification is carried out
specification with support of a section deployment model (Table 3,
Influencing Customer
factors needs
while the information gathering is supported by a task
model (Table 4). Such prescriptions, described all over
Figure 10. Influencing factors and customer needs as subsets this paper, provide a set of guidelines to support designers
for the design specification on agricultural machinery. in translating information on the lifecycle environments to

128 Influencing factors in agricultural machinery design Marini & Romano

 Classe Propriedades Descrição

Design ISO 3339 A technical standard that defines an universal classification

resources standard for agricultural machinery (MÁRQUEZ, 2001)
→→
Expert Analysis procedure based upon tacit and explicit knowledge
judgment comprising a body of knowledge on a specific area

Machine Visual inspection of agricultural machinery, carried out by

inspection static inspection on site; or, technical documentation review
(operating manual, part lists, etc.)

Product Agricultural machine testing, to be carried out by observing

testing actual product performance: live working demonstrations;
performance testing evaluation; and, in-field operation
evaluation (evaluation means a report is included)
Preliminary Methodology to identify hazards to improve operational
Hazard and/or design safety (BLOSWICK; SESEK, 2004) with four
Analysis steps: (1) Identify hazardsous conditions; (2) determine
causes of incidents; (3) determine potential effects from
incidents; and, (4) establish requirements to hazard control
Benchmarking Methodology to compare existing products with pre-defined
criteria towards defining performance goals for the
developing design

Reverse Detailed study of the physical configuration of a system or a

engineering machine, by the acquisition of a complete unit, its
disassembly and measurement of relevant dimensions

Machine Performance analysis of a machine or a subsystem under

evaluation declared and controlled conditions as defined in regulations
and technical standards

Field One or more team members make visits to specific locations

research representing likely operating conditions for the agricultural
machine. Data collection procedures are carried out in site,
such as area inspection, photography, interviews and GPS
data collection, among others

Table 12. Design resources for prescription in task model.

design specification format. The specification of resources to gratefully acknowledge the role of the agency in funding
supports designers in following the task model, giving them his Ph. D. study at the Technical University of Denmark.
discretion to use and augment the systematic modeling of The authors also wish to acknowledge: engineers Lucas
influencing factors to their advantage. Arend and Cledir Colling, for endorsing the realization of
Considering the role of the class-properties models in the the study and providing valuable information in the scope
constitution of this contribution, it is possible to conclude of this study; professors Dr. José Fernando Schlosser and
the aims of this paper were achieved. The proposed models Dr. Reges Durigon, for providing access to the implement
constitute support to implement systematized practices to
tests.
gather information on influencing factors in design, and
process it towards usage in the development of improved, 11. References
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