Introduction to Engineering Design

Introduction to Engineering Design William Oakes, P.E.

Brainstorming • Make a list of potential service projects related to technology

Learning Objectives • At the end of this session, you will be able to: • Describe design • List at least three steps in the EPICS design process • Identify resources to help with design

Design is… One of the activities of engineering. • Design • Development • Research • Test • Analysis • Production • Sales • Technical Support • Other Source: Oakes, Leone, and Gunn (2004). Engineering Your Future. Okemos, MI: Great Lakes Press.

Many definitions of design… • Design is art • Design as problem solving • Design activity as applying scientific knowledge • Design is a social process in which individual object worlds interact, and design parameters are negotiated. Source: Dr. Robin Adams ENE 696G course notes

Crismond (2007) draws from many sources in his definition of design as “’goal-directedproblem-solving activity’ (Archer, 1965) that initiates change in human-made things(Jones, 1992), and involves optimizing parameters(Matchett, 1968) and the balancing of trade-offs(AAAS, 2001)to meet targeted users needs(Gregory, 1966).” Source: Crismond, D. (2007). Contrasting strategies of beginning and informed designers: One representation of learning progressions in engineering design.

Few Specifications Many Specifications Design Process Infinite Variety of Designs Most -----Least InfluentialChoices One Design The Design Process =====> Design is done by many disciplines

Multiple Valid Solutions • Examples: • Cell phones and Computers

Multiple Valid Solutions • Examples: • Car models • Aircraft Engines • Spinner cone design optimizing on aerodynamics, inlet flow characteristics and ice shedding

EPICS Balance • Service-learning is a balance of the learning of design and the service we contribute the communities through completed designs and support • Service • To our partners, meeting needs in the community • Learning • Becoming good designers, professionals & active citizens Complimentary goals that enhance each other

The Design Process • Many formal models for the design process • ME uses Ullman’s Model for Design • The Mechanical Design Process, McGraw Hill, 1997, 2003 • 6 steps • Engineering Your Future • 10 steps • Different Companies use different models • They use a process • EPICS teaches a model that fits our community-based design

EPICS Design Process Six Phases • Problem Identification • Specification Development • Conceptual Design • Detailed Design • Production • Service/Maintenance • Redesign or retirement

Problem Identification Specification Development Redesign Retirement Conceptual Design Detailed Design Service Maintenance Production The EPICS Design Cycle Disposal

Take your list of service projects and share them in a small group Categorize them into “design” and “not design”Be prepared to share you lists!

EPICS Design Process Six Phases • Problem Identification • Specification Development • Conceptual Design • Detailed Design • Production • Service/Maintenance • Redesign or retirement

Problem Identification • Tasks – • Identify problem • Determine project objectives • Determine motivation for project • Identify outcomes or deliverables • Determine duration of the project • Identify community partner contact • Deliverables - Project Charter

Example….Project Identification Phase • One of the deliverables is the Project Charter • Description – Describe and summarize what you or your team will be doing. • E.g., What is the problem that you will be solving and for whom? • Objectives- List the project objectives. • E.g., Why are you doing the project (i.e., what is the motivation or desired need for the project?)

Project Charter, continued • Outcomes or deliverables • E.g., What are going to be the project results? • Duration • E.g., When will the project be started, and when will it meet the objectives and deliver the outcomes? • Community Partners • E.g., With whom are you serving on this project? • Stakeholders • E.g., Who will be affected by your project other than your customer?

Specification Development • Tasks • Complete users and beneficiaries analysis • Define the customer requirements • Evaluate design constraints • Develop engineering specifications • Compare to benchmark products (prior art) • Determine design targets

Specification Development • Deliverables- • Project Specification Document • Measureable specifications • Mock-ups or rough prototypes to help narrow the specifications • Interacting with the community partner • User-centered, human-centered

Conceptual Design • Task • Complete Functional Decomposition of project • Complete Decision Matrix of requirements • Define how users will interact with project • Interacting with users and potential users • Mock-ups and prototypes to test concepts • Analyze/evaluate potential solutions • Interacting with community partner (users) • Choose best solution(s)

Conceptual Design • Deliverables- • Project Conceptual Design Report • Systems level design • Details need to be designed • Sketch/mock-up/prototype demonstrates concept

Detailed Design • Tasks • Complete top down specification/ bottom-up implementation • Define components and freeze interfaces • Analysis/evaluation of project, sub-modules and/or components • More detailed prototyping/proof-of-concept of project, • sub-modules and/or components • Field test prototype/get feedback from users • Complete DFMEA analysis of project • Determine what user training is necessary

Detailed Design • Deliverables • Project Detailed Design Report • Full details of all parts • Dimensions, sizes, all details • Documentation of all parts • Full prototype version of project

Production Phase • Tasks • Complete production version of the project • Ready for the field and to be use by people • Complete user manuals/training material • Complete delivery review • Deliverables • Delivered project • Project Delivery Report • Delivery checklist • User manuals

Service/Maintenance Phase • Tasks • Evaluate performance of fielded project • Determine what resources are necessary to support and maintain the project • Deliverables • Fielded Project Report • Redesign or Retirement Decisions

Problem Identification Specification Development Redesign Retirement Conceptual Design Detailed Design Service Maintenance Production Iterations in the Design Process Disposal

Test Test Generate Ideas Generate Ideas Implement Implement Define Measurable Specifications Define Measurable Specifications Iteration and Test Back to previous phase Go to next phase

Iteration and testing Prob ID Spec Dev Con Des Det Des Prod Main and serv. • Document • Why advanced • Why interated

Curriculum Diagram Exit 2: Specification Development Ave Road Exit 4: Detailed Design St. Exit 1: Problem Identification Rd. Exit 7: Retirement Rd. Figure 1 (DRAFT skeleton): EPICS Design Model

Seeking and Selecting Diverge Seek Possibilities Problem Identification Converge Narrow Choices Diverge Seek Possibilities Specification Development Converge Narrow Choices Diverge Seek Possibilities Conceptual Design Converge Narrow Choices Each phase of the design process requires creative solutions and has a divergent component where ideas are sought and a convergent component where options are selected

Why is design difficult? • Engages different types of thinking • Requires designers to manage so many ideas and aspects • Addresses different types of problems

Good design… • Good designs involve diverse perspectives and expertise • IDEO – industry leader in design and innovation • Design thinking is a crucial business asset—one that can, indeed, move a company forward and improve the bottom line. To optimize this impact, (we) advise thoughtfully structuring the innovation process. They stress working on projects that improve people’s lives.. - Ryan Jacoby and Diego Rodriguez, Innovation, Growth, and Getting to Where You Want to Go, Design Management Review Vol. 18 No. 1

Introduction to Engineering Design