Title: Proactive Design for Manufacture through decision analysis

Authors: R.J. Holt, C.J. Barnes

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK

Abstract: Design for Manufacture (DFM) techniques suffer from two limitations: each addresses only one perspective, with no link to the design|s overall needs; guidance suitable for the early stages of design is qualitative and unstructured. This paper argues that a formal approach based on decision analysis can be applied from the earliest stages of design, as a way of providing structure even with qualitative and uncertain information. The relationships between DFM and design decision-making are discussed, and a process for comparing incomplete designs against qualitative DFM guidelines is presented. The process is demonstrated with an illustrative example, and the paper closes by discussing further areas for developing this approach.

Keywords: proactive DFM; design for manufacturing; decision analysis; decision support; concurrent engineering; product development; simultaneous engineering; product design; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2011.037595

International Journal of Product Development, 2011 Vol.13 No.1, pp.67 - 83

Published online: 27 Feb 2015 *

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