Design for Manufacturing and Assembly

Day 1: Understanding the Benefits of DFMA

• Explore the concept and advantages of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
• Examine the four primary objectives of product design: productivity, cost, quality, and reliability
• Understand how design decisions impact manufacturing efficiency and product performance
• Recognize the role of DFMA in optimizing production processes
• Discuss how design influences product appeal and operational costs

Day 2: Design for Manufacturing (DFM) – A Clear Understanding

• Define the role of cross-functional teams in the DFM process
• Understand the integration of DFM within the product development lifecycle
• Gain an overview of the structured DFM process
• Learn how to estimate manufacturing costs effectively
• Identify methods to reduce the cost of components
• Explore strategies to minimize assembly costs
• Review ways to lower the cost of supporting production
• Consider broader impacts of design decisions on manufacturing and operations

Day 3: Gathering Key Information and Defining Specifications

• Learn how to retrieve specific information related to design functions and requirements
• Understand the importance of aesthetics, performance, and target markets in design decisions
• Examine the crucial role of specifications in guiding the design process
• Discuss how clear specifications contribute to successful product development
• Analyse factors that influence the creation of effective design specifications

Day 4: Developing Effective Specifications and Creative Thinking

• Compare examples of effective and ineffective specifications
• Understand the steps to compile a comprehensive design specification
• Develop critical thinking skills to generate creative and original design ideas
• Explore various techniques to stimulate innovative thinking in design
• Learn how to experiment with different ideation methods for problem-solving

Day 5: Advancing Knowledge and Understanding in Design Engineering

• Receive guidance on further developing knowledge and skills for design engineers
• Learn how to gather and evaluate data using appropriate research methods#
• Understand the reasons for selecting specific research techniques in design
• Explore key stages of conducting questionnaires and organizing user trips for data collection
• Discuss how and why specifications are used throughout the design process
• Examine ways to reduce assembly costs during the design stage
• Understand how modelling can be used to generate, explore, test, and refine design concepts
• Review useful activities and approaches to support design engineers in their role