Mechatronic Reference Model for Innovation: Connecting Complex Design to Business Issues Through the Concepts of Cycles and Revisions

This article presents a study that combined theoretical and empirical methods in a longitudinal approach to develop and validate the Mechatronic Reference Model for Innovation (MRM4i), a detailed framework for designing and developing mechatronic products. The text aims to present the model in terms of cycles and revisions and to compare it with the V- and W-models for mechatronic design, as well as with previous reference models in new product development (NPD). The primary characteristic of the MRM4i is to connect traditional concepts of new product development reference models—such as phases, decisions, documents, and prototypes—with the core principles of mechatronic design, as outlined in the V-Model and W-Model. The concepts and their implementation were exemplified through a longitudinal case study at a company, in which technical artifacts for four mechatronic products were presented and discussed, and compared to V/W-Models. Validation issues are outlined, and future research directions are presented.