Title: Enhancing the product development process through a sequential approach part III: manufacturing

Authors: Anil Mital, Anoop Desai

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0116, USA. ' Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0116, USA

Abstract: This is the final and concluding part of this series dedicated to presenting a comprehensive approach to consumer product design using DfX principles. This paper focuses on dealing with design principles that enhance the usability of a product in general. In this context, it deals with factors such as designing for maintainability and designing for ease of use. It also addresses the all important concept of design review, by means of which quality can be engineered into the product at the design stage itself. Finally, the paper also addresses the issue of paramount importance: cost in order to maximize profits. The issue of demand forecasting in order to enable product managers to predict future product demand is also addressed at some length towards the end of this paper. This paper serves to act as an all important link between product design, demand forecasting and facilities design.

Keywords: design for manufacturing; DfM; manufacturing processes; product selection; productivity; design review; product development; product design; functionality; cost; assembly; usability; disassembly; product disposal; materials; product demand forecasting; facilities design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2007.011542

International Journal of Product Development, 2007 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.186 - 206

Published online: 01 Dec 2006 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article