Design project: getting started Project overview Product development process Idea generation (ideation) – Brainstorming – Brainwriting – Concept map – Morphological design – Observation – Literature/patent search Concept selection – Controlled convergence – Weighting schemes – Multi-voting, consensus Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20141

Project Overview Your task Working in groups of 3 or 4, design and build a device that can be used to demonstrate a physics principle to third grade students. How you’ll get there Idea generation and concept selection Concept review Preliminary design Manufacturing considerations Final design, 3D printing, testing Report and presentation Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20141

Product Development Process, View 1 Concept Generation and Selection Problem identification Idea generation Decision process, design selection Refinement Analysis Preliminary Design Detailed Design Final design documents IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20143

Product Development Process, View 2 Concept Generation and Selection Problem identification Preliminary Design Detailed Design Testing Fabrication Operation Reuse, recycling, disposal Design and Analysis Implementation Use IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20144

Idea Generation: Brainstorming Start with broad question or problem statement Everyone participates; no one dominates Every idea is recorded “Crazy” ideas welcome Use ideas as springboard to other ideas Judgment is suspended; there are no bad ideas No evaluations (this comes later) No criticism or commentary Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20145

Brainstorming Let’s try it! Scenario: The power went out when you were away from home, but is on when you return Problem: How to know whether food in refrigerator or in freezer is safe? Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20146

Ideas? Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20147

Brainwriting 6 people; each starts with a sheet of paper with the problem statement Write down 3 ideas in 5 minutes Pass sheet next person, who adds/build on ideas in 5 minutes Continue so that each person adds to each sheet Doesn’t have to be 6-3-5! Concept Generation and Selection Figure from Lieu & Sorby, Engineering Design IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20148

Morphological Chart Break problem into parts List options for each Combine concepts to generate ideas. Concept Generation and Selection Figure from Lieu & Sorby, Engineering Design IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer 20149

Concept Map Problem in the center Sub-parts grow from center Use to generate ideas or to organize ideas Concept Generation and Selection Figure from Lieu & Sorby, Engineering Design IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

More ways to generate ideas Observation – Nature – Existing products Literature search – Patents – Catalogs – Web – Consumer surveys – Competitions Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Concept Selection Once a range of ideas have been generated, select the most promising How to do this without investing too much time and effort in each idea? Appropriate approach depends on – nature of problem, – how well defined the design concepts are – how different the design concepts are In general, need criteria to use in comparing Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Controlled Convergence Purpose – Eliminate weaker ideas; retain strong ideas – Identify opportunities for combination Process – Generate multiple ideas/concepts; sketch each – List criteria; construct matrix – Select a datum idea – Compare each idea to datum; coarse scale (+ = -) – Tally and look at combinations – Eliminate weak ideas – Combine features to form stronger ideas Concept Generation and SelectionIISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Concept Generation and Selection Controlled Convergence Figure from Modify shower grip idea to improve safety and comfort. Modify tub door idea to reduce cost and improve maintenance. Keep shower grips and tub door. Eliminate pivoting tub. IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Weighting Schemes Concept Generation and Selection Assign a weight to each criteria (1-10 in the example below) Assign score to each concept for each criteria (1-10 in the example below) Multiply score by weight Sum over the criteria to get total for each concept If results are close, revisit/review the weights and scores IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Multi-voting and Consensus Concept Generation and Selection Multi-voting – Each team member votes for multiple concepts – Concept with the most votes moves forward Consensus – The team discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each concept – As a group, the team rules out concepts and eventually select one to move forward IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

Project time! Concept Generation and Selection Groups With your group – discuss the project – generate concepts – make a list of questions Meet back here in 30 minutes – your questions – next steps – important project dates IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer

References Concept Generation and Selection Dennis, Robert G. ME 450 Design and Manufacturing III. University of Michigan, Fall Web. 29 July Lieu, Dennis K, and Sheryl Sorby. Visualization, Modeling, and Graphics for Engineering Design. Clifton Park, NY : Delmar Cengage Learning, Print. IISME ETP L. Demsetz Summer