Design Planning and Scheduling (Week 6)

Question 1

What is the engineering design process?

Answer 1

1. Specification Development/
   Planning Phase
   Determine need, customer and
   engineering requirements
   Develop a project plan
2. Conceptual Design Phase
   Generate and evaluate concepts
   Select best solution
3. Detail Design Phase
   CAD models
   Engineering drawings
   Design documentation
   Part specification
   Prototype evaluation
4. Production Phase
   Component manufacture and assembly
   Plant facilities/capabilities
5. Service Phase
   Installation, use, maintenance and safety
6. Product Retirement Phase
   Length of use, disposal, and recycle

Question 2

What is design planning

Answer 2

Planning is what need to be done and in what order
it consists of identifying the key tasks (or activities) in a project and ordering them in a sequence in which they should be performed. A project plan is a document that defines the tasks that need to be completed during the design process

Question 3

What is design scheduling

Answer 3

Design scheduling is when things need to be done, it consists of putting the plan into a calendar

Question 4

What are the steps of planning the design project

Answer 4

1. Identifying Key Tasks
2. Stating measurable objectives for each task
3. Estimating the personnel needed and time required to meet the objectives
4. Developing a sequence for the tasks
5. Estimating product development costs

Question 5

Explain the identifying the tasks step

Answer 5

-Although the tasks should be as specific as possible, the may be vague statements such as “generate concepts” at the early stages of the project.

Question 6

Explain the state measurable objects step

Answer 6

Each objective must be:
* Easily understood
* Specific
* Feasible (possible, given the personnel, equipment, and time available)
* Defined not as activities to be performed, but as results to be achieved (usually in terms of paperwork produced or prototypes developed)
Step 2A—State the Objective for Task 1
(Product Development Specification)
* Customer requirements identified
* Competition identified and evaluated
* Measurable engineering targets (PDS) for the product
established
Step 2B—State the Objective for Task 2
(Concept Generation and Selection)
* Sketches of several potential concepts, based on a clear
understanding of the functions required
* Evaluation of each concept relative to customer
requirements
* Decision matrices that document the selection of the two
best concepts
Step 2C—State the Objective for Task 3
(Detailed Design)
* Detailed drawings of all components
* Assembly drawings
* Schematics
* Code
* Parts list (Bill of Materials—BOM)
* Manufacturing and assembly procedure

Question 7

Explain the estimating the personnel needed step

Answer 7

• For each task, identify who on the design team (by job
  title) will be responsible for meeting the objectives, what
  percentage of their time will be required, and over what
  period of time they will be needed
• For each person on each task, it will be necessary to
  estimate not only the total time requirement but the
  distribution of this time
• Finally, the total time to complete the task must be
  estimated
  Typical personnel and time requirements:
• Design of elemental assemblies, brackets, plates, straps. All design work
  is routine and/or requires only simple modifications of an existing
  product. 1 designer for 1 week
• Design of elemental devices such as mechanical toys, locks, and scales,
  or complex single components. Most design work is routine or calls for
  limited original design. 1 designer for 1 month
• Design of complete machines and machine tools. Work involved is mainly
  routine, with some original design. 2 designers for 4 months
• Design of high-performance products that may utilize new (proven)
  technologies. Work involves some original design and may require
  extensive analysis and testing. 5 designers for 8 months

Question 8

Explain the Developing a Sequence for the tasks step

Answer 8

• The goal is to have each task accomplished before its
  result is needed and, at the same time, to make use of all
  of the personnel all the time
• The simplest and most commonly used scheduling tool is
  the Gantt (or bar) chart
• A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of the
  duration of tasks against the progression of time
  http://www.ganttchart.com/

Question 9

What is a Gantt Chart?

Answer 9

• A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart developed as a
  production control tool in 1917 by Henry L. Gantt, an
  American engineer and social scientist
• Provides a graphical illustration of a schedule that helps to
  plan, coordinate, and track specific tasks in a project
• On the Gantt chart:
  1. Each task is plotted against a time scale (i.e., weeks,
  months, etc.)
  2. The total personnel requirement for each time unit is
  plotted
  3. The schedule of design reviews and milestones is shown
  Note that, a standard Gantt chart does not show the
  dependence of one task upon another