Design For X Research Articles

Lean Design-for-X Methodology: Integrating Modular Design, Structural Optimization and Ecodesign in a Machine Tool Case Study

D***esign-for-X (DfX) approaches are of great importance to support sustainable development of new products, since the goal of DfX practices is to improve life cycle cost, life cycle environmental performance, increase design flexibility, manufacturing efficiency, etc. Therefore DfX supports a better decision-making process whenever a new complex product is being developed. In this work the new Lean Design-for-X (LDfX) approach is presented embracing the principles of Lean Product Development and Modular Design, for a systematic applicability by design engineers and product managers, assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of a given product design. An LDfX index metric, ranging between 0-100%, and original scorecard were created for consistent decision support for the comparison of different design concepts or products, integrating different “X” domains. The approach was applied in a real design study of a machine tool (press-brake), integrating Ecodesign principles, Design for Structural Optimization and Modular Design.

The industrial symbiosis in the product development: an approach through the DFIS

Industrial symbiosis is characterized mainly by the reuse of waste from one company by another company as raw material. This concept has advanced in the sense that companies seek to develop this type of relationship. We believe that one of the next steps is to consider industrial symbiosis in the product development. It is in this context that enters the DFX (Design for X), as it seeks to maximize the product features with respect to the approach to which the X refers. This work aims to examine two possibilities; the first is to consider the industrial symbiosis within the Design for Environment, since it is an already existing approach that considers the environmental aspect, so industrial symbiosis would be just another factor. The second possibility is the proposal of the Design for Industrial Symbiosis (DFIS) and its systematization in an application method. Considering the industrial symbiosis in the product development would also bring financial benefits, not only environmental.

Testing the Methodology to Generate Design for Product Service Supportability (DfPSS) Guidelines and Rules: An Application Case

The industrial world is today navigating from a traditional product-based business to a new more complex solution-based orientation, pushed by new technologies, a multiple functionalities demand and a change in the customer value perception. Several are the methods and tools proposed in literature to aid manufacturers to design those solutions in an integrated and systematized way but none of them is really able to consider together product and service components, according to both company and customer views. In this context, a methodology generating new Design for X (DfX) guidelines to support the early integration of service features already in the product design of PSS has been proposed by the authors. This methodology can raise engineers’ consciousness in designing PSSs in a systematic and integrated way and provides insights into the link between the design process of PSS and the design knowledge generation in terms of guidelines and rules. In particular, the objective of this paper is to test this methodology through an application case. The test, following a theory building procedure, contributes to obtain the final methodology design, providing a double result: industrial experts’ feedbacks, giving to the authors a major awareness of its strengths and weaknesses, and new industry-specific PSS design guidelines and rules.

Uncovering differences and similarities among quality function deployment-based methods in Design for X: Benchmarking in different domains

ABSTRACTThe ability for a product or a service to meet customer needs and requirements efficiently before its market launch is a key-point in design and development activities. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) represents one of the most powerful design methods to achieve such a goal. This study investigates the QFD-based methods proposed in the last two decades, whose use in different ambits of Design for X (DfX) is reported to be effective. We selected most common QFD-based methods, analyzing how designers can implement and coordinate them in design activities effectively throughout their application to an identical case study.

Sacrifice for X: Design Space Mapping

This paper proposes a concept design method, called Sacrifice for X (SfX), which is supposed to be applied in early development situations. In principle, this method is an alternative to brainstorming, but aims for better characteristics in terms of effort for learning the method (i.e., fewer behavioral rules), scaling to multiple teams, team member solution adherence, and tangibility of opportunistic design choices. Considering engineering as finding the right solution in a design space, then SfX is figuratively mapping out the area where the assumed solution lies. Mapping it one aspect at a time, or one aspect per team.If one thinks of Design for X (DfX) as concurrently integrating different aspects into a design, then SfX can be considered as its counterpart where all but one aspect can be excluded. Everything, especially design constraints, can be sacrificed for one aspect X, hence the name “Sacrifice for”. Knowledge, guidelines and toolboxes from DfX are reusable, which makes SfX a good companion method for teams exercising DfX: SfX for design space explorations and DfX for solution realization. Furthermore, the applicability, benefits and caveats of the presented method are discussed.

Design for Skin and Shape: An Innovative Design Approach

Although all aspects of a product design are demanding and need several resources to be completed, Design for X (DfX) represents a series of formal methodologies used to optimize a specific aspect of the product design under consideration. Those DfX tools deal with different stages of the product design and there is considerable gap concerning the package design cycle. The proposed methodology Design for Skin and Shape (DfS&S) is focused on the package design industry and offers significant advantage towards its success. It helps the designers to be focused on shapes that are easily recognized by the customers and then create appropriate graphics for them. Following this approach, it is easier to create an innovative optical identity for the product and its packaging during the conceptual stage. The methodology can reduce the development time of the package, while designers have in mind, from the beginning of the design process, the shape which will guide them to its completion. Following the proposed methodology different packaging designs are presented.

Creative Design for Skin and Shape Using Advanced CAD Systems

Design for X (DfX) is a methodology for the definition and implementation of a range of goals which allow the development of an optimal product based on a series of aspects i.e. manufacturing, assembly, reliability, usability, ergonomics. A great amount of research work has been implemented towards improving a product that is designed using different aspects of the design process as a criterion for optimization. The proposed Design for Skin & Shape methodology (DfS&S) is focusing towards the design of creative products and packages, based on a shape and graphic texture that clarifies directly in the customer mind what is the product on the selves. At the same time, it creates a clear optical identity to its mind for the product which is directly associated with the design. An additional advantage of the DfS&S is that it can reduce the product development time since the concept is defined from the beginning of the design cycle. A number of case studies are presented.

Product design for energy reduction in concurrent engineering: an inverted pyramid approach

The consideration of energy aspects as X in the design for X (DFX) paradigm in concurrent engineering (CE) is important for enabling reductions in operating costs, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhancing sustainability. This research presents a CE methodology for the consideration of energy use in product development and manufacturing, specifically addressing the machining process. The research reported in this paper showcases the effectiveness of using a systematic integrated approach towards consideration of energy in product development, addressed through product, process, and system level parameters. It adds an important tool to the DFX toolbox for evaluation of the impact of design decisions on the product manufacturing energy requirement early during the design phases. The use of the inverted pyramid approach (IPA) has been described as an effective methodology for incorporation in expansion of the DFX toolbox.

Modern enhancements in teaching design theories to mechanical engineering students

This paper describes the application of computer aided design (CAD) in teaching advanced design methodologies to fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in mechanical engineering. This involves modern enhancements in teaching strategies for subjects such as designfor- X (DFx) and failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) concepts, which are traditionally categorised as advanced design methodologies. The main subsets of DFx including design-for-assembly (DFA), design-for-disassembly (DFD), design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-environment (DFE) and design-for-recyclability (DFR) were covered by studying various engineering and consumer products. The unit was designed as a combination of practical hands-on workshop-based classes along with a software-based evaluation of different products. In addition to CAD, finite element modelling techniques were utilised to enhance the students' understanding of design faults and failures. The inquiry into teaching practice and design of this fourth-year unit was carried out during past two years and it revealed some interesting outcomes from our teaching practice in terms of students' learning experiences. Finally, the paper discusses some critical factors in the context of teaching advanced design methodologies to the undergraduates in mechanical engineering and even manufacturing engineering.

Modern Enhancements in Teaching Design Theories to Mechanical Engineering Students

This paper describes the application of computer aided design (CAD) in teaching advanced design methodologies to fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in mechanical engineering. This involves modern enhancements in teaching strategies for subjects such as design-for-X (DFx) and failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) concepts, which are traditionally categorised as advanced design methodologies. The main subsets of DFx including design-for-assembly (DFA), design-for-disassembly (DFD), design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-environment (DFE) and design-for-recyclability (DFR) were covered by studying various engineering and consumer products. The unit was designed as a combination of practical hands-on workshop-based classes along with a software-based evaluation of different products. In addition to CAD, finite element modelling techniques were utilised to enhance the students’ understanding of design faults and failures. The inquiry into teaching practice and design of this fourth-year unit was carried out during past two years and it revealed some interesting outcomes from our teaching practice in terms of students’ learning experiences. Finally, the paper discusses some critical factors in the context of teaching advanced design methodologies to the undergraduates in mechanical engineering and even manufacturing engineering.

The Evaluating Method for Module Partition Schemes of Complex Product Systems

Module partition of Complex product system (CoPS) usually produces a number of schemes, and how to choose the best one amongst the themes is very important. In this research, according to the features of CoPS, the multi-level evaluation indexes are built based on the DFX (design for X) method, which can evaluate the scheme comprehensively. The weight of indexes are obtained with the method of analytical network process. Then, the multi-level grey fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is proposed to make the well-chosen decision based on the DFX multi-objective evaluation model. The evaluation method are illustrated using the partition schemes of the experiment platform of a bevel gearbox.

Benefits of DfX in Requirements Engineering

Information and communications technology (ICT) companies have realised how acknowledging the needs of both internal and external customers is a necessity for successful requirements engineering. Design for X (DfX) is a potential management approach for coordinating & communicating requirements emerging from both internal functions and external supply chain partners. This article studies the potential of DfX for improved requirements engineering. Qualitative interviews are utilised to analyse how different organisations implement the concept, including designers’ actual work, methods & tools, and organisational aspects. The results include viewing DfX as means to achieve relevant competitive goals, and describing how different companies organise these activities, together with their benefits for modern ICT companies. This study highlights how the DfX concept can be used to manage, prioritise and to better communicate

Investigation of the applicability of Design for X tools during design concept evolution: a literature review

Despite the availability of numerous Design for X (DfX) concepts/methods, their application is challenging for two reasons: • because methods have been developed with different foci (e.g., manufacturing vs. quality), it is difficult to know how different methods complement each other • in what sequence and where at the design stage they should be applied. We address this challenge with a review of DfX methods with recommended design stages for their use from the published literature. We also provide a thematic clustering for their application along with a maturity index for each DfX concept.

A Design Support Framework through Dynamic Deployment of Hypothesis and Verification in the Design Process

This paper proposes a design support framework, named DRIFT (Design Rationale Integration Framework of Three layers), which dynamically captures and manages hypothesis and verification in the design process. A core of DRIFT is a three-layered design process model of action, model operation and argumentation. This model integrates various design support tools and captures design operations performed on them. Action level captures the sequence of design operations. Model operation level captures the transition of design states, which records a design snapshot over design tools. Argumentation level captures the process of setting problems and alternatives. The linkage of three levels enables to automatically and efficiently capture and manage iterative hypothesis and verification processes through design operations over design tools. In DRIFT, such a linkage is extracted through the templates of design operations, which are extracted from the patterns embeded in design tools such as Design-For-X (DFX) approaches, and design tools are integrated through ontology-based representation of design concepts. An argumentation model, gIBIS (graphical Issue-Based Information System), is used for representing dependencies among problems and alternatives. A mechanism of TMS (Truth Maintenance System) is used for managing multiple hypothetical design stages. This paper also demonstrates a prototype implementation of DRIFT and its application to a simple design problem. Further, it is concluded with discussion of some future issues.

Exploring the relationship between after-sales service strategies and design for X methodologies

The transition from a product manufacturer into a service provider constitutes a major managerial challenge for companies. It requires new organisational principles, structures and processes, which encompass the whole product life cycle, from its concept and design to its dismissal. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how design for X (DFX) methodologies and practices can consistently enable the achievement of the objectives of specific after-sales strategic profiles, by encompassing those distinctive features which can at best fulfil the customer's requirements and expectations throughout the product life cycle usage. A model is proposed in order to relate after-sales strategies with 'DFX' methodologies. The description of two industrial case studies provides a pragmatic insight on the opportunities coming out from a consistent relation between after-sales strategies and product development practices.

A DFX and concurrent engineering model for the establishment of a new department in a university

The natural focus of concurrent engineering (CE) and design for X (DFX), as commonly used by manufacturing industry, is on product design or new service development. The present study applies the DFX technique in a CE environment to the planning and design of a new department in a university, and thus develops a comprehensive model for such an undertaking. The model identifies two stages in the overall process: the planning stage and the design stage. The planning stage includes four dimensions, whereas the design stage includes 11 dimensions. The dimensions are interdependent; indeed, the dimensions cannot be implemented separately and sequentially. The model must be implemented in a CE environment. A case study is then presented in which a department of leisure management at a university is established using the model described. The implications of the case study and the final conclusions of the paper are then presented.

Design for networks-The ultimate design for X

The true test of how a vendor's systems work is how they work with the service provider's existing systems and with other vendors' systems in operating networks. In this paper, we present various concepts, including design for X (DFX), and introduce the concept of design for networks (DFN), the objective of which is a working, revenue-generating network that meets or exceeds the customer's expectations. In a series of case studies involving optical networks, we show what can go wrong when DFN considerations are not part of the product, network, and service design process. We also discuss such network considerations as synchronization, data communications networks (DCNs), management, and synchronous optical network (SONET)/synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) interfacing, and we introduce an expansive definition of product and design. Finally, we show how to transform the lessons learned in the field into feedback for the design process so as to improve the end result for both vendor and customer.

Internet-based DFX for rapid and economical tool/mould making

Computer Internet communication technology offers tremendous potential for building computer communication and software platforms for rapid development of OKP products to meet global competition. In the past few years, a variety of Internet-based systems have been developed for the purpose of Rapid Product Development (RPD). Among these systems, Internet-based “Design for X (DFX)” systems have been recognized as efficient tools for implementing concurrent engineering and playing a key role in RPD. Internet-based DFX or IDFX systems can be applied by manufacturing companies to rapidly produce high-quality products with low costs and thus higher profits. However, the implementation of IDFX systems is not an easy task. The reason is that many new techniques are involved in the application of the IDFX and the PD processes are normally sophisticated and vary with product development environments. In this paper, as illustrated by case studies, two typical applications of IDFX, i.e. Internet-based design for manufacture (IDFM) and Internet-based design for cost (IDFC) systems, are proposed for rapid and economical tool/ mould making. The structure and the key models of the systems are discussed.

Synchronised Design for X platform for performance measurement on the WWW

This paper is concerned with establishing a synchronised Design for X (DFX) platform for various performance measurement (PM) tools that can be used by a variety of users on the Internet to evaluate various product designs, through the standard web browser. Four assistant facilities are contained in the platform. The first one is used to capture the product-related data. The second offers the user the process improvement information. The third provides measurement information of the interaction between process activities and product elements. The last one is an integrative worksheet displaying performance measurement results. To coordinate various users of the system, issues of synchronisation control and conflict resolution are taken into consideration. Finally, a case study is introduced to see how a Design for Disassembly (DFD) tool can be used in the platform with collaborations among users.

Design for manufacture and design for ‘X’: concepts, applications, and perspectives

The implementations of design for assembly and design for manufacture (DFM) led to enormous benefits including simplification of products, reduction of assembly and manufacturing costs, improvement of quality, and reduction of time to market. More recently, environmental concerns required that disassembly and recycling issues should be considered during the design stages. The effort to reduce total life-cycle costs for a product through design innovation is becoming an essential part of the current manufacturing industry. Therefore, researchers begin to focus their attention on design for environment, design for recyclability, design for life-cycle (DFLC), etc. These studies are sometimes referred to as Design for X (DFX). Since the late 1990s, hundreds of papers have been published pertaining to DFX applications in manufacturing. Most of them are widely distributed over many different disciplines and publications. This makes it very difficult for one to locate all the information necessary for the application of DFX in manufacturing. A paper that can help researchers and practitioners applying this emerging technology is highly desirable. The objective of this paper is to present the concepts, applications, and perspectives of ‘DFX’ in manufacturing, thus providing some guidelines and references for future research and implementation.