Starting a Project
Where do we now start?
Where are we going?
Will we know when we arrive?
Starting a project
&
1
Client Statement
(need)
Problem Definition
clarify objectives
establish user requirements
identify constraints
establish functions
establish design specifications
generate alternatives
Conceptual design
model or analyze design
test and evaluate design
Preliminary Design
refine and optimize design
Final Design
(fabrication specifications
& documentation)
Before BL
Verification
Detailed Design
After BL
Always
recognizing need
for Standards and
Standardization
Design Communication
document design
Validation
Product
(designed object)
Starting a project
2
Conceptual Design
Problem Definition
clarify objectives
establish user
requirements
identify constraints
establish functions
Client Statement
(need)
Verification
Establish design specifications
generate alternatives
Starting a project
Conceptual
design
3
Client’s Statement (opportunity
Statement)
“I would like your team to design me a
CD rack.”
 Task

– Each team pick a person to be the client.
– Rest of team organize to function as a
team.
– Use the team and team skills to acquire
further knowledge about the problem.
Translating and clarifying client’s wants.
Starting a project
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Wants
Needs
Problem
Revised
Problem
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Further Clarifying Wants
Desired features and attributes
 Desired functions
 Features, attributes, and functions of
competing products

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Needs
Features,
Attributes
, and
Functions
Organize
and modify
Starting a project
Objective
List/Tree
7
Objective Tree
Obj 1
Obj 1.1
Obj 1.1.1
Obj 1.2
Obj 1.1.2
Obj
1.1.2.1
Obj 1.2.1
Obj 1.2.2
Obj
1.1.2.2
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Constraints
Client’s external constraints
 Project team’s internal constraints

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Goals
What the team hopes to achieve
 Based on their understanding of the
problem
 Developed by combining the objectives
and constraints

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Objective Tree
Goal
Obj 1
Obj 1.1
Obj 1.1.1
Obj 1.2
Obj 1.1.2
Obj
1.1.2.1
Obj 1.2.1
Obj
1.1.2.2
Starting a project
Obj 1.2.2
Constraint
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Formal Mission Statement

A concise and carefully developed statement
that tells
–
–
–
–
–

Who is doing the project
Where it is located (your client, location)
What is being done
When it will be completed
Why it is important to do it
The “How” will be defined by your project
management plan, conceptual design
activities, preliminary design activities, and
final design activities.
Starting a project
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