8 - Viability of Design Solutions

Question 1

Describe Design optimisation and explain how the design and manufacture of a product can be optimised.

Answer 1

OCR Definition: ‘Product design and development requires that engineers consider trade-offs between product attributes in the areas of cost, weight, manufacturability, quality and performance. It is about determining how to arrive at the best overall design, making the right compromises and not sacrificing critical attributes like safety.’
Design optimisation can be achieved through the used of standardised parts, reduction in material quantity, size, wall thickness, reducing the number of materials to reduce manufacturing stages.
Also, FEA (finite element analysis) software or using
structural methods such as algorithms to remove materials without compromising strength etc.