Engineering Design Process Overview

Summary

The engineering design process is an iterative method to solve complex problems and meet client needs. It involves two main stages: design analysis and solution construction. In the analysis stage, teams clarify their assignment, understand the problem, and define design criteria. The solution stage includes developing solution options, evaluating them using decision-making tools, prototyping, and testing to ensure the solution meets the design criteria. This process is critical for creating successful engineering solutions.

Takeaways

• 🔄 **Iterative Process**: Engineering design is an iterative process where teams may need to repeat functions after gaining new knowledge.
• 🔍 **Two Main Stages**: The process is divided into understanding the problem and constructing a solution.
• 📝 **Clarify Assignment**: The first step is to clarify the team's assignment to avoid solving the wrong problem.
• 🧐 **Understand Problem and Context**: Teams must fully understand the problem, including past failures and new requirements.
• 📊 **Define Design Criteria**: Design goals are formally defined with quantitative values during the analysis stage.
• 🤔 **Research and User Interaction**: Engaging with users and conducting research is critical for understanding the problem.
• 💭 **Develop Solution Options**: Brainstorming is used to generate as many solution options as possible.
• ⚖️ **Evaluate Solutions**: Teams use structured decision-making tools to reduce options to a selected design.
• 🛠️ **Prototype Solution**: Teams build CAD models or physical prototypes, starting with low-cost materials.
• 📈 **Test Solution**: The solution is tested to ensure it meets the design criteria and project goals.
• 🔁 **Iterative Nature**: The process includes back arrows indicating steps that may need to be revisited.

Q & A

What is the engineering design process?

The engineering design process is an iterative, problem-solving process that creates a solution to meet client needs, which can be a device, product, process, or system.

Why is the engineering design process considered iterative?

The engineering design process is considered iterative because teams may need to go back and perform the same function more than once once they've learned new knowledge.

How can the engineering design process be divided into stages?

The engineering design process can be broken up into two overall stages: the design analysis stage, where the team understands the design problem, and the solution stage, where the team constructs a solution.

What is the first step in the design analysis stage?

The first step in the design analysis stage is to clarify the team assignment, which involves understanding the assignment by having conversations with the client or boss.

Why is it critical to thoroughly explore the design analysis stage?

Thoroughly exploring the design analysis stage is critical as it sets the team up for success by ensuring a clear understanding of the problem and context before moving on to solution development.

What are the tasks involved in understanding the problem and context?

Tasks involved in understanding the problem and context include research, talking with people, and visiting destinations to learn more about the problem.

What is the purpose of defining design criteria?

The purpose of defining design criteria is to formally define the design goals, which are typically expressed as objectives paired with quantitative values.

Can you provide an example of design criteria for a portable music player?

An example of design criteria for a portable music player could be that the device must weigh less than 5 kilograms.

What is the first step in the solution stage?

The first step in the solution stage is to develop solution options, where the team brainstorms to identify as many possible solution options as they can.

How do teams evaluate solutions during the solution stage?

Teams evaluate solutions using structured engineering decision-making tools, such as screening and scoring matrices, to reduce a large number of solution options down to a selected design solution.

What is the role of prototyping in the engineering design process?

Prototyping in the engineering design process involves specifying the solution and building a CAD model or a physical prototype to visualize and test the solution before refining it with higher cost and fidelity materials.

Why is the process of prototyping and testing iterative?

The process of prototyping and testing is iterative because it often generates more solution ideas and requires refinement of the design to meet the project's goals and objectives.