The Potential Role for DFMA in the Product Development Process
Assignment 2b: DFMA narrative
“The potential role of DFMA in the product development process”
Background
Design for Manufacture/Assembly (DFMA) is one of many formal design methods now used within industry alongside FMEA, Taguchi, QFD, FTA, Fishbone, Pugh, ABC and others1. It is one of the techniques adopted by companies using ‘concurrent engineering’ techniques for product development2.
The philosophy of DFMA is to; aim for simplicity, use standard materials and components, rationalise product design across product families, use the widest permissible tolerances, choose materials to suit function and production process, minimise operations that do not add value, design for process and teamwork3. This philosophy can be boiled down to the goal of using the simplest possible design solution, i.e. parts reduction.
Advantages
Often, when DFMA methods are implemented into the product development process, they are implemented too late, or not used throughout the project4. The early application of DFMA methods in the product process can result in a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. This is due to the fact that 60-80% of the final product production cost is fixed during the concept phase5.
A number DFMA implementation methodologies have been developed, the most well known of which is the DFA method by Boothroyd and Dewhurst2. These methods allow the designer to quantitatively assess their design early in the development process. It is important that the implementation of DFMA is as straight forward as possible and delivers feedback that is usable to the designer.
Another role of DFMA is as a communication tool between departments and disciplines; the issues of the manufacturing department are brought to the forefront in the mind of the designer3.
Utilisation
Since DFMA began to be refined and utilised in the 1970s3 many manufacturing companies have implemented it into their product development process. Early adopters include Boeing,
“The potential role of DFMA in the product development process”
Background
Design for Manufacture/Assembly (DFMA) is one of many formal design methods now used within industry alongside FMEA, Taguchi, QFD, FTA, Fishbone, Pugh, ABC and others1. It is one of the techniques adopted by companies using ‘concurrent engineering’ techniques for product development2.
The philosophy of DFMA is to; aim for simplicity, use standard materials and components, rationalise product design across product families, use the widest permissible tolerances, choose materials to suit function and production process, minimise operations that do not add value, design for process and teamwork3. This philosophy can be boiled down to the goal of using the simplest possible design solution, i.e. parts reduction.
Advantages
Often, when DFMA methods are implemented into the product development process, they are implemented too late, or not used throughout the project4. The early application of DFMA methods in the product process can result in a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. This is due to the fact that 60-80% of the final product production cost is fixed during the concept phase5.
A number DFMA implementation methodologies have been developed, the most well known of which is the DFA method by Boothroyd and Dewhurst2. These methods allow the designer to quantitatively assess their design early in the development process. It is important that the implementation of DFMA is as straight forward as possible and delivers feedback that is usable to the designer.
Another role of DFMA is as a communication tool between departments and disciplines; the issues of the manufacturing department are brought to the forefront in the mind of the designer3.
Utilisation
Since DFMA began to be refined and utilised in the 1970s3 many manufacturing companies have implemented it into their product development process. Early adopters include Boeing,