Engineering Design Curriculum
Courtesy of:
www.engineering-ed.org/documents/week_1_design_process.ppt
Course Objectives
Apply the engineering design process
Define a problem (need) and develop
alternatives for solving
Build, test, evaluate prototypes
Create and use engineering drawings
Demonstrate drafting techniques
Engineering design is…
the process of devising a system,
component or process to meet needs
a decision-making process in which
science and mathematics are applied to
convert resources to meet objectives
establishing objectives & criteria,
synthesis, analysis, construction,
testing, and evaluation
Problem Characteristics
Engineering Problem
 Problem statement
incomplete,
ambiguous
 No readily
identifiable closure
 Solutions neither
unique nor compact
 Solution needs
integration of many
specialties
Science Problem
 Succinct problem
statement
 Identifiable closure
 Unique solution
 Problem defined
and solved with
specialized
knowledge
Typical Design Problems
“Design a system for lifting and moving loads
of up to 5000 lb in a manufacturing facility. The
facility has an unobstructed span of 50 ft. The
lifting system should be inexpensive and
satisfy all relevant safety standards.”
Studying Engineering Design
Develop student creativity
Use open-ended problems
Use design theory and methods
Formulate design problem statements
and specifications
Consider alternative solutions
Consider feasibility
Studying Engineering Design
Know and apply production processes
Understand concurrent engineering
design
Create detailed system descriptions
Include realistic constraints such as…


Economic factors, safety, reliability
aesthetics, ethics, social impacts
“Awesome” Engineers…
Place ethics and morals above all else
Are team players
Follow a deterministic design process
Follow a schedule
Document their work
Never stop learning
Module Organization:
The Design Process
1. Identify a need, who is the “customer”
2. Establish design criteria and constraints
3. Evaluate alternatives (systems or
4.
5.
6.
7.
components)
Build a prototype
Test/evaluate prototype against criteria
Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
Document specifications, drawings to build
Engineering Design Process
Backup Chart
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Identify a need
Establish design criteria and constraints
Evaluate alternatives
Build prototype
Test/evaluate against design criteria
Analyze, redesign, retest
Communicate the design
The Engineering
Design Process
Design is an Iterative Process
Begins with a
recognition of need for
a product, service, or
system
During the idea phase
encourage a wide
variety of solutions
through brainstorming,
literature search, and
talking to users
Best solutions are
selected for further
refinement
Models or prototypes
are made and
problems that arise
may require new
ideas to solve and a
return to an earlier
stage in the process
Finally drawings are
released to
manufacturing for
production
Engineering Design Defined
The crux of the design process
is creating a satisfactory
solution to a need
Harrisberger
Engineering Design Process
Customer Need
or Opportunity
Problem Definition/
Specifications
Data & Information
Collection
Development of
Alternative Designs
Evaluation of Designs/
Selection of Optimal Design
Implementation of
Optimal Design
Source: Accrediting Board For Engineering and Technology
Primary Design Features
1. Meets a need, has a “customer”
2. Design criteria and constraints
3. Evaluate alternatives (systems or
4.
5.
6.
7.
components)
Build prototype (figuratively)
Test/evaluate against test plans (criteria)
Analyze, “tweak” (), redesign (), retest
Project book: record, analyses, decisions,
specs
Step 1: Need
Have a need, have a customer
External vs internal; Implied vs explicit
Often stated as functional requirement
Often stated as bigger, cheaper, faster,
lighter
Boilerplate purpose: The design and
construction of a
(better____something)_____ for (kids,
manufacturing, medicine) to do __________.
Step 2: Criteria & Constraints
“Design criteria are requirements you specify for your
design that will be used to make decisions about how to
build the product”
Aesthetics
Geometry
Physical Features
Performance
Inputs-Outputs
Use Environment
Usability
Reliability
Some Design Constraints
Cost
Time
Knowledge
Legal, ethical
Physical: size, weight, power, durability
Natural, topography, climate, resources
Company practices
Activity/Demonstration
Product index cards
Pair up as customer-designer
Variation on 20 questions
Identify some design criteria and
constraints for sample products
Discuss
Step 3: Evaluate Alternatives
Needs best stated as function, not form
Likely to find good alternatives for
cheapest, fastest, lightest, and encourage
discovery
Research should reveal what has been
done
Improve on what has been done
Play alternatives off criteria and constraints
Brainstorming helps
Simulation
Best Design
Choose best design that meets criteria
Demonstrate tradeoff analyses (among
criteria and constraints) are high quality
Cost (lifecycle) is always consideration
Resist overbuilding; drives complexity,
cost, time, resources
A quality design meets customers expectations!
Step 4: Prototype
Prototype is implementation of chosen
design alternative
It is a proof of design, production and
suitability
Prototypes are often cost prohibitive:
Models and simulations may suffice
Quality design does not include
redesigning a lot of prototypes
Prototype
Prototype
picture of 747
Step 5: Test it Well
Test and optimize design against
constraints and customer expectations.
Create a test plan showing how to test
Test in the conditions of use
Good test plan shows what test,
expected results how to test, and what
analyses will be. It relates to
specification requirements
e.g. test plan for light bulb (activity)
Activity: Light Bulb Test
Production assembly-time-demonstration
Robustness-vibration,
temperature-test article
Life-hours-statistical sample
Duty cycle-count
on/off-prototype
Brightness-lumens-measure
Packaging-drop test-do last
Base fit-yes/no-first article demo
Step 6: Test and Redesign
Test Results
Successful Test:
Satisfying
Test Failure:
Priceless
Step 7: Documentation
Project data book
A complete record
All key decisions
Good drawings
Test plans
Results
Conclusions
Things learned
Draw a Good Picture
• Drawings for project notebook, application, display
• Photos, sketches, CAD 2-D or 3-D
• Show assembly, components, materials
Product Sketches
Other Drawings