What is Design Structure Matrix?

Design Structure Matrix (DSM) is a square matrix that represents, in the whole system, how each element or process is related to the other one. DSM chart gives managers, engineers, designers the ability for a deeper sight of the overall system in order to keep the system and its interactions maintained and organized.

Source: https://dsmweb.org/design-structure-matrix-dsm/

 The applications of DSM are as follows:

Development Process: The DSM represents project deliverables and activities to carry out complex process such as engineering and process design. The DSM helps project managers and engineers to better understand the required design iterations and to make the information flow smoother.

Organizational Planning: The DSM can represent the people and departments collaborating together to carry a complicated workflow. This process keeps the Top-management members posted about communication within employees and departments and to make decisions related to the system they are working on or developing.

System Design: DSM can be used to map relationships between different components within a complex system. This method views the interaction among different components with a strong attention to put the light into different missing points and to group components in effective ways.