Development and application of a mixed product/process-based DFM methodology

Abstract

This article presents the results of a research project on Design for Manufacturing (DFM) (Vliet 2001), carried out at Delft University of Technology from 1997 until 2001. The aim of the project was to enable effective application of the DFM concept during the entire design process, in order to help reduce design and manufacturing lead times and costs. A DFM methodology has been developed that can be used to support the designer to apply DFM. The methodology is based on the approaches of design coordination and continuous design evaluation. Both approaches have been implemented to provide an active form of design support during the entire design process. The methodology supports the principles of systematic design. To enable the designer to apply these principles effectively, two new design tools have been developed for, respectively, the product design specification stage and the conceptual design stage. In order to be able to verify the DFM methodology, it has been implemented. The prototype computer-guided DFM system has been evaluated by experienced designers of various companies of the Dutch metalworking industry. The conclusion is that the proposed method of active design support is a suitable one, and that the DFM methodology enables effective application of the DFM concept.