Engineering Design Steps Flashcards
What is a Design Brief?
document created that outlines the project
* lists objectives, goals & scope of project
* created with input from client/ customers / market
* more of a summary / overview
What is a Proposal?
document that is a more complete project guideline from start to finish
- Entities will submit a design brief for subcontractors to bid on
- Different solutions are submitted, these are then judged on time, cost and implementation
What are Specifications?
- Requirements of the product / project
- Include size, aesthetics, functionality, durability
- What the customer wants - wish list
- Goals / functionality of the finished product
What are Constriants?
- Project limitations
- What the customer doesn’t want
- Those characteristics that cannot be changed
- Safety, regulations, legal (patent)
How to: Define the Problem
what are the factors
- Clear identification of actual problem
2.Communication with coworkers and customers
How to Define the Problem?
Identifying the Problem
Determine problem’s origin
How did the design problem come about
Look at the history of the product
Define what is and what is not the problem:
- Process of elimination
Identify present state and desired state of each component in problem
- Research:
similar designs, competition, etc
review math & science principles
Poll users / market studies - State problem in your own words – Problem Statement
How to Define the Problem
Writing the Problem Statement
Outlines problem in clear terms
Does not limit creativity in design
Aspects to Address in Problem Statement
- Who is problem for?
- What is problem’s functionality?
- Where is problem located?
- How much?
- Money, materials & time
- Measurable goal?
Should not be question
Should not give potential solution
Should not state why or how
Often one or two sentences
How to Define the Problem
Criteria
- Guidelines to follow to solve problem
- Help guide engineers to solve problem
- Include Specifications, Constraints and Impacts
- Outline for design of potential solution
- Listed in engineering notebooks
BrainStorming techniques
Free Association
free writing
brainstorming web
future process
free association
Most common form of brainstorming
Relies heavily on lack of criticism
Goal is to trigger ideas
All ideas are presented, regardless of feasibility
Usually has a facilitator
freewriting
Completed individually
Timed approach
Engineers given topic, then must write as many ideas in limited time as possible
Bring ideas back to group and discuss
Brainstorming Web
- Team lists ideas in common space
- Ideas written in random locations on whiteboard
- Team finds links between ideas
- Leader draws lines
between connected ideas - Used to combine and
modify ideas - Especially helpful when
solution has multiple
components
Future Process
- Purpose is to find ideal list of solutions
- Not limited by current ways to produce solution
- Helps engineers identify solutions and work backward to find ways to solve problems
- Challenging technique
How to choose the best idea
- Choosing between the ideas
- Eliminate ideas that are not feasible or do not solve the problem
- Analyze advantages and disadvantages of each design
- Trade-off analysis weighs strengths and weaknesses
- Trade-off charts
What are the Categories on a trade-off chart?
Is it cost effective
Can it be produced effectively
Aesthetics (does it look nice)
Easy to maintain
Marketability
Convenience
can it solve other problems
