SEM721 – Engineering Design

Week 5

Concept development and selection

Assignments in the Double-Dimond process
Timelines of the Double-Diamond weekly tasks
 Individual Assignment 1
Due 13 April (Week 6)

1/2
 Individual Assignment 1
Due 13 April (Week 6)

2/2
Double-Dimond process

IS1 IM1

Technical
research IC1
IS2 IM2

IC2
User Mind TD
Team Team Team Team Team Team
detail detail detail detail FINAL FINAL
research map
IC3 design design design design design design

IS3 IM3
Market IC4

research
1, 2, 3, 4 = Team member
IS4 IM4 IS = Individual sketches
IM = Individual mock-up
IC = Individual CAD model / schematics
TD = Team design
 Iterative design process based on research
1. Research Existing Bike Saddles 2. Sketch Form Ideas 3. Create CAD Models From Sketches

4. Prepare CAD Model for 3D Printing 5. Test Bike Saddle Prototype 6. Revise, Print, Test – Repeat

http://www.core77.com/posts/70782/MakerBot-Design-Series-The-Bike-Saddle
MakerBot Design Series: The Bike Saddle
A 3D printer isn't just a prototyping tool; it's a sketchbook, a second set of hands, and all told—a paradigm shift.
BY FELIPE CASTAÑEDA - DEC 01
7. Print the Finished Design
Individual
early-stage CAD
model(s)
- Based on hand sketches
and quick physical mock-
ups

- Aim: to present your

idea(s) to your team

- No details, no
refinement… (this comes
later from Week 6 on)

https://damassets.autodesk.net/content/dam/autodesk/www/solutions/3d-modeling-software/design-academy-video-thumbnail-03-572-340.jpg
https://autodesk-exchange-apps-v-1-5-
staging.s3.amazonaws.com/data/content/files/images/200703040017190/8699194120463301363/original_96dabab0-ec8f-4ffd-a2b5-22f0f0247436_.png
https://embed-ssl.wistia.com/deliveries/c38399ecf147a2686e709849a1c5cff33427bfc7.jpg?image_crop_resized=1148x720
Exploded view

(this could be
CAD)

- limited info on
shapes,
assembly parts
and materials
proposed

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d4/01/9e/d4019e063acb42d2338d1d96b5504021.jpg
If your idea is
a smart
system or
about
connectivity…
If your idea
is an XR /
gamified
experience
…

Sketches:
https://blo
g.prototypr.
io/vr-
sketch-
sheets-
4843fd690c
91
UX Case Study

VR Bathroom Designer

Made for:
Client, Valencia Home

Timeframe:
4 months

Responsibilities:
Produced all
prototyping & coding
using Unreal Engine
Created all 3D
environment and
assets
Interface design and
user testing
Worked with a
software developer to
help structure, debug
and optimize the code

https://www.uxdesignv
r.com/work/vr-bath
https://uxdesign.cc/virtual-reality-planning-staging-and-storyboarding-a01cd883e7ff
https://www.behance.net/gallery/52122755/Storyboarding-for-VR
 Storyboarding and
early stage 3D models/scene for VR

Talbot et al. 2020: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-51828-8_17

https://uxdesign.cc/virtual-reality-planning-staging-and-storyboarding-a01cd883e7ff
https://www.behance.net/gallery/52122755/Storyboarding-for-VR
Assignment 1 tasks…

Development of individual concept:

• A refinement of your individual concept (after mock-up) to put forward to the team
for concept selection.
• Your individual proposal to the team can be in a form an early-stage 3D computer-
generated model (CAD), refined schematics or in other advanced visuals.
• The number of details must be higher than on sketches or mock-up.
• Your proposal to the team must also be more organised and neater than the
outputs in concept generation.
• Annotate or caption images.
• If you have a CAD model, copy the link to your Fusion 360 file into the comment
together with your assignment submission.
 Concept selection process
- Evaluating concepts with respect to user needs and other criteria
- Comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of the concepts
- Selecting one or more concepts for further investigation, testing or development

… the best
way to get a
good idea is
to get a lot of
ideas… Linus
Concept generation Pauling
Concept screening
Concept scoring
Concept testing
(Ulrich & Eppinger, 2004)
 Concept selection process

A structured method offers the following benefits…

• a user focused product outcome

• a competitive design by benchmarking to existing designs
• better process coordination – design more matched to production capabilities
• reduced time to product introduction – through common language between design,
engineering, marketing
• effective group decision making – team ownership
• documentation of the decision process – auditable and accountable
Concept selection

Six stages

1. Prepare selection matrix

2. Rate concepts
3. Rank concepts
4. Combine and improve
5. Select one or more
6. Reflect on process and results
Concept screening (not required in Assignment 1)

• Rate the concept against customer needs criteria and features/functions

identified in PDS
- reference may be an existing product, a competitor's product, best
benchmarking product

• Score using a matrix chart

• Score for each customer need

(i) better than = +1, worse than= -1, same as= 0 or
(ii) use pro/con method

• Objective metrics should be used, these may not be part of the user
requirements, number of parts, assembly complexity
Concept screening (not required in Assignment 1)
Concept screening vs concept scoring

Both use a decision matrix to rate, rank and select concepts both use a six stage process

• concept screening - is a quick approximate evaluation aimed at producing a few

viable alternatives
- use (+ or –) or pro/cons scoring system

• concept scoring – is a more careful analysis of the viable concepts in order to choose
a single concept direction
- use a weighting scoring system
Concept scoring selection matrix (required in Assignment 1)
Student examples (required in Assignment 1)
Student examples (required in Assignment 1)
 Concept scoring (required in Assignment 1)

1. prepare selection matrix

note: when scoring: 1 is worse – 5 is best
2. establish importance weightings (see your user needs list)
3. rate the concepts
4. rank the concepts – multiply score x weighting
5. combine concept features and improve
6. reflect on process
• Sensitivity analysis – recheck scores, what if weighting slightly
alters? Does team agree?
Proceed with a successful product development
 Concept scoring selection matrix (required in Assignment 1)

Scoring Matrix CONCEPT A CONCEPT B CONCEPT C CONCEPT D

Selection Criteria Weight Weighted Weighted Weighted Weighted

Rating Rating Rating Rating
(user needs + pdct specs) % Score Score Score Score
Handling and operation by
unskilled personnel (volunteers
assisting rescue operation)
Low cost
Facilitate extended search and
rescue operation (day/night)
under ‘no electricity’
circumstances
Reliable
Total Score
Rank
Continue?
Assignment 1 tasks…

TEAM Concept selection matrix:

• One selection matrix table per team, including all individually

refined concepts (CAD models with author name).
• With 2-3 sentences, provide an INDIVIDUAL explanation of the
method used and INDIVIDUAL interpretation of the selected
team concept.

Mission statement (design brief,
product design specifications)
= design requirements
Title: New Coffee Maker for
Smart Kitchens, Inc., May 2003
(Example adapted from R.J. Eggert, 2005)
Introduction
Design problem: home kitchen coffeemaker
Intended purpose or use: brew coffee
Unintended purpose: heat water for tea or hot chocolate
Special features:
Control switch should have on/off indicator light,
Means to keep coffee warm after brewing
User requirements
- Functional performance
- Water should be heated to temperatures between
57.2°C and 79.4°C
- Brewing time should be less than 6 minutes
- Drip brewing method is required rather then percolation
- Input electricity must be 110 – 120 volts AC
- Power consumptions should be less than 400 watts
Operating environment
- Residential temperatures 10°C – 51.6°C and
humidity 10-100%
- Pot and basket should be dishwasher safe
Minimal dust
Benchmarking:
Economic
- Should have economic life of more than 5 years
- Should not require any routine servicing other than
cleaning
Geometric limitations
- Compact size is desired
- Height, width, and depth less than
381 mm x 254 mm x 254 mm
- Pot must contain a minimum of 1.4 l (eight 1.8 dl cups) of
brewed beverage
- Brew chamber should accommodate up to 0.65 dl of
coffee grounds
Maintenance, repair, retirement
- The coffeemaker casing should be easy to clean
- No repairs should be required during economic life
- No special disposal efforts should be required
Reliability, robustness
- No failures should occur during economic life
- Will accommodate variations in water, coffee ground
quality, supply power voltage
(>>> Next slide)
(>>> Continued)

Safety
- Will not burn or electrocute user
- Will not combust or catch fire during normal use
Company requirements
Pollution
Marketing
- Will not create noise >40 db
- Retail price should be less than $30
Ease of use
Manufacturing
- Simple to will water, add/remove grounds and filter paper
- Production run quantity is established at about 25,000 units
- One switch to turn on/off
- A beta prototype should be ready for testing in 12 months
- Simple to remove basket and place in dishwasher
- Components must be made with injection-moulding
processes available in current plant
Human factors
- No large forces or torques required to operate
Financial
- Pot handle to fit 5-95th percentile females and males
- Development costs should be paid back in three years
- Switch to have obvious mode of operation
- Removable parts should be graspable and not slippery
Other
- Production prototype must be UL-approved (safety
Appearance
standards for electrical devices and components)
- Colour scheme to match current/popular appliance trends
- Surface finish should be very smooth to facilitate cleaning
- Shape should be consistent with current trends
 Product design specifications (PDS)
• Up to 32 elements (Pugh, 1990)
• Information in the elements may overlap
• A poor PDS leads to poor design
A Product Design Specification (PDS) is generated to ensure
development of the product remains compliant with the
identified customer needs. This is accomplished by stablishing
preliminary boundaries for the detailed design of the product.
These boundaries are identified through application of the
literature review, industry feedback and customer needs analysis
which are all translated to specific product metrics.
What is a PDS?
• List of product performance criteria
• Comprehensive sets of constraints
• Delimits boundaries of the detail design
• Short, sharp definitive statements with
quantification of parameters (estimate if in
doubt)
• Metric / Unit / Value
• Always date the documents
PDS elements (Pugh 1991: 75)
Product design specifications (PDS)
Up to 32 elements (Pugh, 1990):
Performance – target, attainable values
Environment – effects on product during
manufacture à use, effects on environment
Life in service – 7 days/week, 24hrs/day, @ X years
Maintenance – maintenance philosophy, need for
special tools, ease of maintenance
Targeted production cost
Competition – data from benchmarking, IP, info
search
Shipping – delivery method, lifting capability
Packing – cost & method of packing
Quantity – will affect other costs such as tooling,
processes
Manufacturing facility – in-house or vendor, support
system, machinery
Size – affects user, cost, shipping & handling
Weight - affects user, cost, shipping & handling
Aesthetics – user perception or acceptance
Materials
Product Life Span – life in production line
Standard and Regulations – government, BS/ISO/MS/DIN
Ergonomics
Customer – target customer
Quality & Reliability – subjected to standards (BS, ISO, etc)
Shelf Life – storage risks and problems
Processes – processes involved, in-house facility/vendor
Time-scales – period to complete the design
Testing – methods, facility, requirements/standards
Safety – safety requirements
Company Constraints – house, facility, cost
Market Constraints – local conditions, full market
knowledge
Patents, literature & Product data – clash & IP laws
Political & Social Implications – social unrest, rejection
Legal – product liability legislation (product defects, defects
of manufacture, defects of design, etc)
Installation – assembly consideration (stand alone,
subsystem)
Documentation – manual, user instructions, etc
Disposal – environment.
PDS elements (Pugh 1991: 75)
Product design specifications (PDS)
Student example
Assignment 1 tasks…

TEAM Design specifications:

• One list of at least 10 requirements that must be met in order for

the solution to be successful and replicated.
• It considers all research performed in the planning stage of the
project and sets clear (quantifiable – e.g., unit/value) technical and
design guidelines or targets for the detail design stage of the
project.
Assignment 1 tasks…

Selected concept:

• An individual succinct explanation of your team’s selected

design concept.
• 2-3 sentences, what is it and why is it good or better than
previous or competitive solutions.
• Include a large hero image of your selected team concept,
regardless of if it is designed by another team member.
Ensure you clearly acknowledge contribution.
 Resources
Develop team project Gantt Chart
(delegation of activities)
1. Microsoft project (if you have experience and access)
2. Any other if you have experience and access
3. Excel Choose this approach if you want access/edit rights for all .. Can be shared/updated…
Timelines
- Tasks
- Milestones
- Names
- Dates

Author: Rachnah Keenoo