1. The Engineering Design Process Remember: Engineering is a team sport Robert Boyle Michelin North America & Wiregrass BEST

2. The Basic Process 4 Understand the problem you are trying to solve 4 What constraints are involved 4 Break the problem into its component parts –Take each component and understand its function 4 Teams make faster progress 4 Prototype & Document solutions 4 Assemble all the component solutions into a comprehensive solution

3. Understand the problem 4 What is supposed to be achieved? –Can it be described (Flow chart etc.) Don’t proceed until there is a clear description of the problem that all team members clearly understand –Break the problem down into some basic elements Grab; Move; Place; Rotate etc. Each of these should be treated separately They are the components of the problem

4. What constraints are involved 4 What are the specifications that have to be met? 4 What materials do we have to solve to meet the specification? 4 What is the time deadline? 4 What tools are available to solve the problem? 4 What skills are needed to solve the problem?

5. Break the problem into it’s component parts - Take each component and understand it’s function 4 Example: –Grab: Grab what? Size, weight, shape, Is it soft, hard, stable, unstable, from where, what orientation is it in etc. –With these basics & an understanding of the constraints it’s possible to start designing 4 Remember: Engineering Design is a team sport –The basics of design Brainstorm, choose, prototype, test, refine, document – Build the real thing!!!! –Edison: “I found a 1000 ways not to make a light bulb”.

6. Teams make faster progress But each team needs a leader 4 Team 1: Decide on how to grab 4 Team 2: How to move the “machine” 4 Team 3: Place what is to be moved 4 Team 4: Define control needs Note: It’s harder to control the design activity 4 There has to be collaboration to exchange ideas –The design review

7. Prototype & Document 4 Prototype –Test the concepts of a design –Decide what not to do –Demonstrate and agree the idea really works –Team decision that “this is a working solution” 4 Document: –When you have a solution, document: Sketches, CAD drawings etc.

8. Assemble all the component solutions into a single comprehensive solution 4 The design review: –When: Know the time constraint you are under and set design review milestones –Set a frequency for design reviews to take place –Each team leader presents “the team’s” work Paper solutions > prototype assemblies –Decisions are made about how each team’s work needs to adapt to give “the comprehensive solution” Avoid buying into a solution personally

9. Now it’s time to start cutting material and consuming parts to build a working design!!! It’s much more efficient done this way and far less frustrating “Measure twice, cut once”