Engineering Design Process

(EDP)
Engineering design is…
the process of devising a system,
component or process to meet needs
a decision-making process in which
science and mathematics are applied to
convert resources to meet objectives
establishing objectives & criteria,
synthesis, analysis, construction,
testing, and evaluation
 Problem Characteristics
Engineering Problem
Problem statement
incomplete, ambiguous
No readily identifiable
closure
Solutions neither unique nor
compact
Solution needs integration of
many specialties
Science Problem
Succinct problem statement
Identifiable closure
Unique solution
Problem defined and solved
with specialized knowledge
 Typical Design Problems
“Design a system for lifting and moving
loads of up to 5000 lb in a manufacturing
facility. The facility has an unobstructed
span of 50 ft. The lifting system should
be inexpensive and satisfy all relevant
safety standards.”
Studying Engineering Design
Develop student creativity
Use open-ended problems
Use design theory and methods
Formulate design problem
statements
and specifications
Consider alternative solutions
Consider feasibility
 Studying Engineering Design

 Know and apply production processes

 Understand concurrent engineering design
 Create detailed system descriptions
 Include realistic constraints such as…
o Economic factors, safety, reliability
o aesthetics, ethics, social impacts
 “AWESOME” ENGINEERS
 Place ethics and morals above all else
 Are team players
 Follow a deterministic design process
 Follow a schedule
 Document their work
 Never stop learning
Module Organization: The Design Process
1. Identify a need, who is the “customer”
2. Establish design criteria and constraints
3. Evaluate alternatives (systems or components)
4. Build a prototype
5. Test/evaluate prototype against criteria
6. Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
7. Document specifications, drawings to build
Engineering Design Process
Backup Chart

1. Identify a need
2. Establish design criteria and constraints
3. Evaluate alternatives
4. Build prototype
5. Test/evaluate against design criteria
6. Analyze, redesign, retest
7. Communicate the design
The Engineering
Design Process
 Design Is An Iterative Process
 Begins with a recognition of
need for a product, service, or
system
 During the idea phase
encourage a wide
variety of solutions through
brainstorming, literature
search, and talking to users
 Best solutions are selected
for further refinement
 Models or prototypes are
made and problems that
arise may require new ideas
to solve and a return to an
earlier stage in the process
 Finally drawings are released
to manufacturing for
production
Engineering Design Defined

The crux of the design process

is creating a satisfactory
solution to a need
Engineering Design Process

Source: Accrediting Board For Engineering and Technology

 Primary Design Features
1. Meets a need, has a “customer”
2. Design criteria and constraints
3. Evaluate alternatives (systems or components)
4. Build prototype (figuratively)
5. Test/evaluate against test plans (criteria)
6. Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
7. Project book: record, analyses, decisions, specs
Step 1: Need

 Have a need, have a customer

 External vs internal; Implied vs explicit
 Often stated as functional requirement
 Often stated as bigger, cheaper, faster, lighter
 Boilerplate purpose: The design and
construction of a (better____something)_____
for (kids, manufacturing, medicine) to do
__________.
 Step 2: Criteria and Constraints
“Design criteria are requirements you specify for your
design that will be used to make decisions about how to
build the product”
Aesthetics
Geometry
Physical
Features
Performance
Inputs-Outputs
Use
Environment
Usability
Reliability
Some Design and Constraints

 Cost
 Time
 Knowledge
 Legal, ethical
 Physical: size, weight, power, durability
 Natural, topography, climate, resources
 Company practices
Step 3: Evaluate Alternatives

 Needs best stated as function, not form

 Likely to find good alternatives for cheapest, fastest,
lightest, and encourage discovery
 Research should reveal what has been done
 Improve on what has been done
 Play alternatives off criteria and constraints
 Brainstorming helps
SIMULATION
 BEST DESIGN

 Choose best design that meets criteria

 Demonstrate tradeoff analyses (among
criteria and constraints) are high quality
 Cost (lifecycle) is always consideration
 Resist overbuilding; drives complexity,
cost, time, resources

A quality design meets customers expectations!

Step 4: Prototype

 Prototype is implementation of chosen

design alternative
 It is a proof of design, production and
suitability
 Prototypes are often cost prohibitive:
Models and simulations may suffice
 Quality design does not include
redesigning a lot of prototypes
Prototype

SpaceX's 'Starship' Hopper Prototype

Step 5: TEST it Well

 Test and optimize design against constraints

and customer expectations.
 Create a test plan showing how to test
 Test in the conditions of use
 Good test plan shows what test, expected
results how to test, and what analyses will
be. It relates to specification requirements
 e.g. test plan for light bulb (activity)
Step 6: TEST and REDESIGN
Step 6: TEST RESULTS

Successful
Test:
Satisfying

Test Failure:
Priceless
Step 7: DOCUMENTATION

A complete record
All key decisions
Good drawings
Test plans
Results
Conclusions
Things learned
Draw a GOOD Picture
• Drawings for project notebook, application, display
• Photos, sketches, CAD 2-D or 3-D
• Show assembly, components, materials
Product SKETCHES
Sketches to REALITIES
THANK YOU!!!