Summary of Journeys in Product Development by Wood Otto
In order to remain in business and at the top of their performance, it is of great importance that all companies master the concept of product design. Product designers are at the front lane in directing a set of activities that result to the designed product. Attaining product development involves a design process. The design process involves a set of technical activities that are set to meet the marketing needs. Design activities in project development may include an original design, adaptive design, or a variant design. Original design in this case involves a new invention that has not been used. The adaptive design involves the use of a known system in the design of a product. The variant design involves the modification of certain parameters and properties of the product as a way of improving the design of the final product.
Similarity with other Authors
In noting down about the product development journey, Otto shares similar ideas with Ulman. This is in the sense that in the design process there are activities, which need to be done in a certain fashion. Based on Ulman, the design of a product follows certain phases during its lifecycle until the final product is produced. The design processes are involved in the design phases of the lifecycle of the product. Otto’s definition of engineering design is somewhat different from Little’s definition. Little gives a more comprehensive definition whereas Otto definition of engineering design will vary depending on the discipline that is being involved in the design.
Summary of What is Engineering Design by Dym Little
Different reasons and scenarios make engineers decide what to design and for what purposes. For an engineer, their nature of work cuts right across the board, from manufacturing companies that process food products to construction companies contacted to design roads for a wider transportation project. All these industries require the skills of a designer for one to be able to operate smoothly and in line with the stipulated rules and regulations of that particular discipline.
Three major roles are essential during the design of a product. First, there is the designer, the person who internalizes the concept and comes up with a product design. The client, the individual or corporation for whom the design concept is conceived and the user, who is the final consumer of the end product. For these three parties, there necessitates the need to have a very good relationship for each of them to work at their optimum. The client should have perfect information as to what the needs of the end consumer are, relay this information to the designer who will in turn internalize the concepts and ideas and be able to come up with an end product that’s tailored to meet the user or the final consumer’s needs, there by obtaining maximum satisfaction. The designer working together with the manufacturing specialist brings out the concept of concurrent engineering, which is currently being applied in most engineering design work.
Summary of Why Study the Design Process by Ullman
Certain factors need to be considered to have an efficient design. Customers always want products that are cheaper and at the same time faster. Measures used to determine effectiveness include cost, time, and quality. Among these three, quality has the highest impact on the final cost of the products. During the early phases of the design process, major attention is done to ensure cost is kept minimal.
Engineering design involves different phases in the life of a product. The different phases include identifying a need, planning for the design process, developing the engineering requirements, developing concepts and finally developing the product. Identifying a need involves establishing the market requirements. After identifying the need, planning is done to ensure efficient product development. The engineering design process involves the organization and management of personnel and information towards the development of the final product.
Additionally, design problems that arise in the design process can be approached in different manners but there some basic actions that are used in the process of solving the design problem. These steps involve establishing the problem, planning how to solve the problem. This is then followed by development of the requirements and discovering possible solutions to the problem. Additionally, alternative solutions need to be developed and evaluated against each other to ascertain the most cost effective solution that can be applied to the problem at hand. Once the right solution is selected, the final results need to be communicated to the entire design team.
Similarities and Differences between the Three Chapters
A similar concept between the chapters that are being applied is the principal of concurrent engineering. In concurrent engineering, different aspects are combined in the design process. The advantage of concurrent engineering is that it incorporates all the stakeholders in the design process. Concurrent engineering involves a high degree of interaction and teamwork. Therefore, the designer’s ideas can be able to be captured in the final product through the manufacturing specialists.
The chapter by Little gives a detailed discussion of what engineering design is and what it encompasses. Once the understanding of engineering design is understood, the article of product development gives insight to the design process in product development.
Works cited
Little, Dym. Engineering Design: Chapter 1. PDF file.
Otto, Wood. Journeys in Product Development: Chapter 1. PDF file.
Ullman. Why Study the Design Process: Chapter 1. PDF file.
