The Engineering Design Process

Elements of Design the Process

-Problem Identification
-Research Phrase
-Requirements Specification
-Concept Generation
-Deisgn Phase
-Prototyping Phase
-System Integration
-Maintenance Phase

Needs Identification

What is the Problem?
1.Collect information
2.Interpret information
3.Organize needs hierarchy
4.Determine relative importance of needs
5.Review outcomes and process

Concept Generation and Evaluation

Explore many solutions
-Brainstorm
Select the best solution
-Based on needs and constraints
Creativity
-Development of new ideas
Innovation
-Bringing creative ideas to reality

Concept Generation

-Substitute
-Combine
-Adapt
-Modify
-Put to other use
-Eliminate
-Rearrange or reverse

Barriers to Creativity

Perceptual blocks
• Limiting problem space
Emotional blocks
•Fear of failure – “fail early and often”
Environmental blocks
• Engineering cultural bias
Intellectual and expressive blocks
• Understand tools


Design Group (Team)

Hold effective meetings
1.Have an agenda
2.Show up prepared
3.Pay attention
4.Schedule time and place of next meeting
5.Summarize
Assign tasks and responsibilities


Engineering projects require diverse skills
This creates a need for group (team) work

Select members based on skills
1.Technical
2.Problem-solving
3.Interpersonal


Develop decision making guidelines


1.Decision by authority (leader)
2.Expert Member
3.Average member opinion
4.Majority
5.Consensus


Project Management

Work breakdown structure
Hierarchical breakdown of tasks and deliverables need to complete project
Activity
1.Task – action to accomplish job
2.Deliverable – e.g. circuit or report