Manufactuability – Lots of objects and structures can be design that can’t be made. If the idea is to make products to sell and use, they have to be made by someone somehow. If this is a business, the cost to make the product has to be less than the selling price. In addition to designing the product, engineers also have to figure out how to make it, too.
- Design for manufacturability is the process of proactively designing products to (1) optimize all the manufacturing functions: fabrication, assembly, test, procurement, shipping, delivery, service, and repair, and (2) assure the best cost, quality, reliability, regulatory compliance, safety, time-to-market, and customer satisfaction.
What do you think?
- What are some reasons why a product can’t be manufactured? Why is this a problem?
- Can you imagine how some new material or process might be developed?
- What are some changes that can be made to a product design to reduce the cost of manufacturing?
- Why is this important?
Engineering ideas
- design, manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, test, procurement, shipping, delivery, service, and repair,
Show and Tell
Now it is your turn. Here are some challenges for you to work on…
- design an object that can’t be built. Why can’t it be made? Would be needed to make it? Will this be possible in the future? How do you know?
Learn more…
- Design for manufacturability
- Design for Manufacturability – The design of the component can have an enormous effect on the cost of manufacturing. Other factors may affect the manufacturability such as the type of raw material, the form of the raw material, dimensional tolerances, and secondary processing such as finishing.
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