COMDIS

1. Engineering Design
Process

2. Engineering design
- is the method that engineers
use to identify and solve
problems.

3. Engineering design process
- is a series of steps that engineers follow to
come up with a solution to a problem.
Many times the solution involves designing a
product (like a machine or computer code) that
meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a
certain task.

5. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
1. Define the Problem
- The engineering design process starts when you ask
the following questions about problems that you
observe:
• What is the problem or need?
• Who has the problem or need?
• Why is it important to solve?

6. Define problem and goal
• Consider:
• What do you want to accomplish?
• What are the requirements?
• Are there any limitations?
• Who is the customer?
• Identify and describe
the issue and the
ultimate objective

7. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
2. Do Background Research
• Learn from the experiences of others — this can
help you find out about existing solutions to similar
problems, and avoid mistakes that were made in
the past. So, for an engineering design project, do
background research in two major areas:
•Users or customers
•Existing solutions

8. Research
• Gather information and investigate existing
technologies related to the problem
• Talk to individuals who share this problem and
could benefit from possible solutions
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9. Research
Research may require going to the library, using computer
databases, writing letters, performing experiments, and asking
questions.
Examples:
 Read books and magazines
 View films or videos
 Search the Internet
 Ask questions of the
“experts”
 Create and analyze a survey

10. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
3. Specify Requirements
- Design requirements state the important characteristics
that your solution must meet to succeed. One of the best
ways to identify the design requirements for your
solution is to analyze the concrete example of a similar,
existing product, noting each of its key features.

11. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
4. Brainstorm Solutions
There are always many good possibilities for solving
design problems. If you focus on just one before
looking at the alternatives, it is almost certain that you
are overlooking a better solution. Good designers try
to generate as many possible solutions as they can.

12. Brainstorm
Brainstorming involves
bringing a group of
people together to
generate many different
ideas.
Examples:
“Make the athletic shoe out of
plastic.”
“The shoe needs to grip the
floor; the bottom should be
made of rubber.”
“The ankle support should be
stiff.”
“Don’t forget the air vents.”
All ideas are considered – none are criticized!

13. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
5. Choose the Best Solution
Look at whether each possible solution
meets your design requirements. Some
solutions probably meet more
requirements than others. Reject solutions
that do not meet the requirements.

14. Choose a solution
• What materials and tools are needed?
• Consider environmental, cultural, time,
and financial issues and constraints.
• Select the most feasible idea and assign
team tasks.
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15. Choose Best Idea
Decide on an idea that best meets the criteria, fits within the
constraints, and has the least amount of negative
characteristics.
List the strengths and weaknesses of each
alternative.
Optimization – Making improvements to the
design idea for better performance or
increased safety
Trade-off – Giving up one desirable trait for
another (i.e., giving up on using a certain
material so that the object is more affordable)

16. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
6. Develop the Solution
Development involves the refinement and
improvement of a solution, and it
continues throughout the design process,
often even after a product ships to
customers.

17. Develop Ideas
Develop multiple ideas that will solve the problem and
meet the requirements. The alternatives may all be quite
diverse.
Criteria:
 How will the solution actually work?
 What materials should I use?
 What should the product look like so that
people will buy it?
Constraints:
 Will it be completed by the deadline?
 What size should it be?

18. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
7. Build a Prototype
A prototype is an operating version of a solution.
Often it is made with different materials than the
final version, and generally it is not as polished.
Prototypes are a key step in the development of a
final solution, allowing the designer to test how the
solution will work.

19. Model or Prototype
Model building is used to gather additional
information and test design ideas.
Examples:
Realistic drawings or renderings help you
visualize what the solution will look like in real
life.
Scale models or mock-ups are small, accurate
representations of the final product.
3D CAD (computer aided designs) can show
objects in action.
A prototype is a working model; it looks and
functions just like the finished product.

20. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
8. Test and Redesign
The design process involves multiple iterations
and redesigns of your final solution. You will
likely test your solution, find new problems,
make changes, and test new solutions before
settling on a final design.

21. Test and Evaluate
Models of design solutions must be tested and
important questions must be answered during the
evaluation.
Is it safe for people and the environment?
Is it comfortable?
Is it affordable?
Is it aesthetically pleasing (does it look good)?
Will it last as long as it needs to?
Does it meet the criteria and constraints?
Does it work?

22. Steps of the Engineering Design
Process
9. Communicate Results
To complete your project, communicate your
results to others in a final report and/or a
display board. Professional engineers always do
the same, thoroughly documenting their
solutions so that they can be manufactured
and supported.

23. Communicate Results
Share your design ideas with others to prove the
design is worthy of manufacturing.
Examples:
Poster
Drawings
Charts
Prototypes
PowerPoint presentation
Reports
Discussion