Process knowledge is of considerable significance to the digitalization and intelligentization of the manufacturing industry. Current research on the process knowledge representation of decision-making in engineering design has predominantly focused on either mathematical models of individual decisions at the micro-level or organizational models of group decision consensus at the macro-level. However, the management of complexity and uncertainty in the model-based realization of engineered systems is critical to achieving rational, comprehensive, and robust decisions, especially in terms of knowledge-intensive design. The efficiency and effectiveness of decisions in system design are intrinsically linked to the process, knowledge, and system concepts involved, necessitating a more flexible and systematic decision process representation scheme that supports both the management of complexity and uncertainty. Hence, in this paper, we propose a decision-centric design process representation scheme named the Phase-Event-Information X (PEI-X) diagram and its corresponding systematic design guidance method for designing decision workflows. Using the proposed method, designers have the ability to (1) model hierarchical decision processes that cover vertical and horizontal interaction patterns, and (2) exploit the synthesis of the “Formulating-Identifying-Reusing-Exploring” iterative process to extend the understanding and prediction of decision process behaviors in design. We achieve the aforesaid abilities through the implementation of a knowledge-based design guidance system for collaborative decision support and we demonstrate the efficacy by adopting a specific multi-stage manufacturing process design problem, hot rod rolling system design, and carry out an integrated design of materials, products, and related manufacturing processes.

过程知识对于制造业的数字化和智能化具有重要意义。当前关于工程设计中决策过程知识表示的研究主要集中在微观层面的单个决策的数学模型或宏观层面的集体决策共识的组织模型。但是，在工程系统的基于模型的实现中，复杂性和不确定性的管理对于实现合理，全面和可靠的决策至关重要，尤其是在知识密集型设计方面。系统设计中决策的效率和有效性与所涉及的过程，知识和系统概念有着内在的联系，必须有一个更加灵活和系统的决策过程表示方案，以支持复杂性和不确定性的管理。因此，在本文中，我们提出了一种以决策为中心的设计过程表示方案，称为相事件信息X（PEI-X）图及其相应的用于设计决策流程的系统设计指导方法。使用所提出的方法，设计人员能够（1）对涵盖垂直和水平交互模式的分层决策过程进行建模，并且（2）利用“ Formulation-Identifying-Reusing-Exploring”迭代过程的综合来扩展理解和设计中决策过程行为的预测。