Design Process Management

Management of design process is a complex set of activities that involves a number of crucial elements such as ergonomics, economics, material and manufacturing process selection, concern for energy expenditure, and recognition of environmental impacts. The product design process can no longer be viewed as linear wherein a design moves sequentially from one department to another and experiences many design changes. Today's design process must be concurrent: including simultaneous consideration of multiple criteria is the norm, mandating the existence of a design team (Design for assembly..., 1995).

This essay will consider various issues related to the management of the design process. Product design will be understood as an integral part of the wider process of developing new products of every type, generally for volume production (Powell, 2009). Consumer goods as well as goods produced for industrial and business use are all subject to this process which can have what Powell (2008) calls a wide remit typically involving a series of different phases with each phase helping to build certainty and understanding as the focus of work narrows.

Ergonomics is defined as an engineering discipline that addresses the effect that work environments and tasks have on employees (Asher, 2007). In terms of managing the design process, ergonomics refers to the exploitation of specific principles in the product design phase that is meant to reduce

Related Essays

Management Methods of Taguchi I .... on product design, process design, and tolerance design. Atkinson, Philip E. (1990). Creating culture change: The key to successful total quality management. .... (1942 8 )

Systems Design Management Problem This study examined a management problem related to systems .... the development of a systems design function .... to participate in the data collection process for this .... (9326 37 )

Time Compression Management .... made by top-level management toward the implementation and certification process" (p. 22 .... different areas--which include: design, process control, purchasing .... (3813 15 )

Management and Organizational Changes .... done right and what they had done wrong in making management and organizational .... of the architect is useful: At times during the design process architects stand .... (2037 8 )

Simulation & Production Design Systems .... Manufacturing Process System (DMAPS) is a fully computerized end to end product and process management system which enables Chrysler to design, construct and .... (3769 15 )

flexible the material should be and whether the material should be resistant to aspects of the surroundings in which the product will be used. This analyst gives the example of the packaging for a take away meal that is to be reheated in a microwave oven, stating that the package must simultaneously be able to resist the heat and radiate generated by the microwave, protect the food from going bad, and prevent spillage or splattering. Product shape also requires selecting materials based on formulated requirements and judging a set of materials with respect to their design consequences. While looking at the manufacturing process, Van Kesteren (2004) said that one must be cognizant of how the product will be manufactured and whether or not the materials selected for the product can be manipulated by this process. Consequently, selecting materials is a complex and challenging effort that goes far beyond aesthetics and speaks not only to what is best for the particular product but whether or not the materials lend themselves to the manufacturing process itself. Selection of Manufacturing Processes Yu, Krizan, and Ishii (1992) stated that designers must select a manufacturing process early in the entire set of activities

Category: Science - D