A full semester_THE END

So this semester is at and an end I guess I'm going to take time out to reflect on what I learned from this class.

"Have no fear of perfection-you'll never reach it" -Salvador Dali

At the very beginning of the semester we started with Design Thinking that entailed convergent and divergent thinking processes. Moving on we learned about the design process which included  a lecture about the difference between form and function and the steps taken in the design process. We brought in new knowledge of customer requirements(what our customers want) and engineering specs(quantifiable ways to relate customer requirements).

Upcoming was types of methods for alternative design and how to pick the best alternative looking at the 4 types of ways to make these choices.  Generating alternatives was one lecture then we moved onto picking the final design by looking at voting, ranking, pairwise and ratings. We compared the disadvantage and advantages and the rating system winded having the most benefit with the least amount trade off. Touched on Design traps like the anchoring and and status quo traps.

The embodiment design was largest and most detailed part of our learning where formulas and beyond obvious considerations were taken into account. Configurations, connections, components and constraints were all covered.


Design for environment:

The LIDS aka spider/radar chart(used to compare environmental considerations, and mapped them to see where improvements may be needed.


Design For Assembly:

Focuses on the components and how they are assembled. Guidelines were layed out to ensure easy and functional assembly. Some guidelines were to decrease overall component count, single frame of reference to locate all components (to avoid the mess to the right), maximize symmetry and other topics.


Design for Reliability:
 This touched on system reliability and how it can be calculated and shown that when producing a large number of part reducing failures is key. Also comparison parallel vs series components were compared and advantages were pointed for both.


Design for variability:

Talked about components and how they fit together. A statistical analysis approach was taken here, looking at six sigma and worst cast scenarios for manufacturing components and identity the probability they will be outside high quality range. This even showed the importance of designing components within the tolerable range and how it can affect the quality of the component or system.


Optimization: Considered mathematical model for optimization, dealing with constraints, and using them to come up with a final solution. Also looked at the fact just because it makes mathematical sense it doesn't mean it makes economic or ergonomic sense.

Design for cost:
This referred to and identified profit and how it can fluctuate depending on parameters such as sale price, sale price, material costs, overhead cost and other such things. We also looked at simple interest, compound interest and net present value of products.

The semester enjoyable and informative, touching on not only analytical aspects but also statistical, manufacturing, environmental, and other components that go deep into design before products placed in the market. It is a very complex and dense subject that to me seems to require a higher level of education above undergrad to fully be able to apply it affectively.

"Good design begins with honesty, asks tough questions, comes from collaboration and from trusting your intuition" - Freeman Thomas