Technical Debt Identification and assessment in mechatronic systems applying indicators, patterns, and metrics - TDebituM

技术决策在短期内是有利的，但在长期内被证明是不利的和昂贵的，因为它们的后果，影响和纠正措施的范围根本没有被考虑或低估。这种现象在软件系统领域被称为技术债（TD）。在机电一体化更精确的自动化生产系统中，关于TD的少数研究结果已经表明，与软件和嵌入式系统相比，首先可以在所有三个机电一体化学科中观察到新的附加TD类型，甚至在应用软件及其平台中，第二类是机电一体化的交叉学科，第三类是机电一体化系统的附加生命周期阶段。因此，系统地分析自动化生产系统（更精确地说是机器和设备制造）的机电一体化系统中的TD，以及代表德国两大主要行业的汽车行业中的机电一体化产品，例如，调查以下研究问题：- 与软件系统相比，可以识别哪些附加TD类型和子类型，在机电一体化系统的生命周期的哪个阶段，以及它们发生的频率，原因和后果？在机械、电气工程以及应用软件及其平台中，可以为此类机电TD或TD确定哪些指标、模式和指标？可以观察到哪些源效应关系？使用专家访谈在德国和选定的国际工业公司，TD事件在机电一体化系统领域如上所述。统计分析方法被应用于检查分类TD属性的发生，关键性，重要性和相关性。识别的静态TD模式和序列用于定量定义TD度量。与不同领域的专家以迭代方式开发的概念有助于TD的可视化和互动，以及公司本身及其供应链中的沟通。在至少10%的受访公司中，通过与专家个人以及焦点小组对结果进行评估，证明了结果的有效性。TDebituM探讨了故意的以及尽可能无意的TD事件，并通过考虑机电一体化学科，生命周期中的其他阶段，跨学科依赖性，以及随之而来的问题转移。早期发现潜在的TD事件并透明地呈现相互关系、维度和风险，支持复杂机电系统生命周期沿着的技术决策过程，并为所有进一步的TD管理活动奠定基础。

Technical decisions that are expedient in the short-term, yet prove as disadvantageous and expensive in the long-term are often made, as their range of consequences, impact, and corrective measures are not considered at all or underestimated. This phenomenon is described as Technical Debt (TD) in the domain of software systems. The few research results on TD in mechatronics more precisely automated production systems already show in comparison to software and embedded systems that at first new additional TD types can be observed in all of the three mechatronic disciplines even in application software and its platforms, second TD types that result from the interdisciplinarity of mechatronics and third from the additional life cycle phases of mechatronic systems.TDebituM therefore systematically analysis TD in mechatronic systems for both automated production systems, more precisely machine and plant manufacturing, and mechatronic products in the automotive industry representing the two German key industries investigating, for example, the following research questions: - Which additional TD types and subtypes can be identified in comparison to software systems, in which phase of the mechatronic systems’ life cycle and with which frequencies, causes, and consequences do they occur?- Which indicators, patterns, and metrics can be identified for such mechatronic TD or TD in mechanical, electrical engineering as well as application software and its platforms?- Which source effect relations can be observed?Using expert interviews in German and selected international industrial companies, TD incidents in the field of mechatronic systems as mentioned above are collected. Statistical analysis methods are applied to examine the classified TD properties for occurrence, criticality, significance, and correlation. Identified static TD patterns and sequences are used to define TD metrics quantitatively. A concept developed in an iterative way with experts of different foci serves the visualization of, and interaction with TD and its communication in the company itself as well as in its supply chain. The validity of the results is proven by an evaluation of the results with individual experts as well as focus groups in at least 10% of the interviewed companies.TDebituM explores the deliberate and, as far as possible, the inadvertent TD incidents and extends the existing knowledge for software and embedded systems by considering the mechatronic disciplines, additional phases in the life cycle, interdisciplinary dependencies, and the resulting problem shifting. Early detection of potential TD incidents and a transparent presentation of the interrelationships, dimensions, and risks support the technical decision-making process along the life cycle of complex mechatronic systems and lay the foundation for all further TD management activities.