Dym & Little
Engineering design spans across several disciplines according to Dym and Little (1). While different disciplines employ deferent engineering design concepts to accomplish different design tasks, there are common elements in the engineering situation. The commonalities that exist in different engineering design works and situations make it possible to describe a design process and its context. Dym & Little defines engineering design as a methodical, intellectual process in which designers produce, assess and stipulate designs for processes, devices or systems whose functions and forms meet the expectations of the client and the needs of the user while satisfying an identified set of constraints (6).
It is imperative to note that there are always three roles being played in the process of engineering design; the designer, the client and the user. These roles represent the commonalities that exist in design works and design situations across different disciplines. Engineering designs are motivated by a client who wants a product produced. The designed product will be used by the third stakeholder who is the user. All the three stakeholders play a significant role in the design of the product. Engineering designs incorporate design specifications and fabrication specifications. The value of the design, the performance level and procedures used for calculating attributes of the designed as outlined in the design specification. On the other hand, fabrication specifications outline a set of plans meant to successfully complete the design; assembly instructions, drawings and list of materials and parts. Additionally, Dym & Little point out that communication is a significant aspect of engineering designs (9).They assert that successful work in engineering design is indissolubly bound up with the aptitude to communicate. It is significant to note that the difficulties associated with engineering designs are attributed to their open-ended and ill-structured nature. They conclude by noting that engineering design is best learnt by studying and action in equal measure.
Wood & Otto
Wood & Otto present a similar view point and ideas on engineering design as outlined by Dym & Little. They assert that the development of modern product entails the application of quantitatively formulated approaches that are methodically set up to allow engineers to develop products efficiently. All companies must comprehend and mater the design of new products so as to remain competitive and stay in business. Engineering design is a collection of activities that entails more than engineering (Wood& Otto 2). It is apprehensive with opportunities and risk in equal measure, thus requires effective decision over the market, technology and time. According to Wood & Otto, it is imperative for today's engineer to comprehend and utilise equipment of modern produce development practice.
Engineers and designers must acknowledge the significant role played by clients and the users. It is imperative to consult customers so as to predict the market acceptance of the improvements made on the design. The risk associated with accepting the beliefs of one product manager is too high. As a result, a team must employ statistically appropriate assessment approaches of a design’s intended client population. Similarly, it is imperative to functionally design what is needed to meet the demands of the client, while applying demanding approaches for integrating the best technologies.
According to Wood & Otto, there is a variation in every engineering product design process depending on different organisations; market and technological environment. It is significant for modern engineers to develop their product design process in different business and continually strive to enhance the design. Wood & Otto (6) outlines that redesign and reverse engineering is a platform for experimenting, learning and living product design. Prediction of how products are executed is made apparent through reverse engineering (3). Additionally, reverse engineering presents engineers with the opportunity to readily visualise possible alternatives and approaches to executing function. The history of methods and the science of engineering product design are abundant with wisdom and tradition. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement as far as engineering and product design is concerned.
Works Cited
Dym, Clive L., and Patrick Little. Engineering design. University Press, 1994.
Wood, Kristin L. and Kevin N. Otto. "Engineering design calculations with fuzzy parameters." Fuzzy sets and systems 52.1 (1992): 1-20.
