Traditional Engineering Design Process
There are two basic methods to engineering design, yet every
company has its own model that it follows.
The two basic approaches are the traditional engineering design and
concurrent engineering design. The
traditional engineering design process uses a linear approach. The concurrent
approach is more web-like, but is still based on the linear approach. There are 8 steps to the traditional
approach.
Step 1: State the
Problem
This is the step where the basic
design idea is conceived. This is the
step where the brainstorming takes place.
This is also the step where you would collaborate with team members and
also perform research.
Step 2: Analyze the Need
I believe this step is self-explanatory. The engineer must decide if the product is
practical and marketable.
Step 3: Set the Objectives
In engineering this is the step
were we would first set the general objectives and then specific objectives. We would write a proposal explaining what the
problem to be solved is that would include the design concept specifications
and estimated costs.
Step 4: Create Alternatives
In this step we would consider the
physical design of the product. You must
consider all of the criteria required and what your constraining factors are. If I were creating a design on a CAD system I
would create several different models.
Step 5: Check for
Feasibility
Now is the time to study each of
the design concepts carefully and select the design that best meets the
objectives that were set as well as which design is the most marketable. There is a loop in that begins in this step
that goes back to Step 4 to optimize the design.
Step 6: Select a
solution/ develop a prototype
The most feasible solution is
selected and then a prototype is constructed.
This is the part where you would test the design and make sure it meets
the specifications.
Step 7: Feedback/Market
Response
The prototype is submitted and
analyzed by a specific market research group. Your research group needs to be
unbiased to get the best possible feedback.
If you find that changes are required the process reverts back to Step 4
and continues forward from there again.
Draw the
design
This is where the final drawings
are prepared as well as specifications and other documentation. The product is then turned over to marketing
and manufacturing. And you move on to the next design problem.
I always liked the linear approach because it is simple and
my drafting teaching in high school always told us to, “KISS IT: Keep It
Simple, Stupid.” That guy was awesome.
That’s a different story, or maybe a different poem.
So as an engineer I am going to attempt poetry using this
process because this is what I know.
