Title: Enhancing the product development process through a sequential approach. Part II: assembly and disassembly

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 paper constitutes the second part of this series of three part papers. It focuses on individual component assembly and disassembly in order to respectively build and take apart a product. Product assembly and disassembly are systematic processes that must be executed in a stepwise fashion. Individual components need to be designed in a particular manner in order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly process. This paper presents the various kinds of assembly and disassembly processes as well as ways and means to achieve economic component design to facilitate them.

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.2007.011541

International Journal of Product Development, 2007 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.171 - 185

Published online: 01 Dec 2006 *

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