Is Concurrent engineering is the name of the game?

Feb 1
10:19

2009

Fred Vierheller

Fred Vierheller

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Strategic Planing of Concurrent Engineering is recognized as a strategic weapon that businesses must use for effective and efficient product development.

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Although the waterfall model is a useful tool for introducing design controls,Is Concurrent engineering is the name of the game? Articles its usefulness in practice is limited. The model does apply to the development of some simpler devices. However, for more complex structures or devices, a concurrent engineering model is more representative of the design processes in use in the industry and is key to success in any industry, where design and manufacturing come together “and stay together” from concept to finished parts, systems, and vehicles, reporting from both the manufacturing and engineering perspectives.

In a traditional waterfall development scenario, the engineering department completes the product design and formally transfers the design to production. Subsequently, other departments or organizations develop processes to manufacture and service the product. Historically, there has frequently been a divergence between the intent of the designer and the reality of the factory floor, resulting in such undesirable outcomes as low manufacturing yields, rework or redesign of the product, or unexpectedly high cost to service the product.

One benefit of concurrent engineering is the involvement of production and service personnel throughout the design process, assuring the mutual optimization of the characteristics of a device and its related processes. While the primary motivations of concurrent engineering are shorter development time and reduced production cost, the practical result is often improved product quality.

The objective is to eliminate multiple design revisions, prototypes, and re-engineering efforts and create an environment for designing right the first time.  The major perceived disadvantage of concurrent engineering is that it increases the time spent in preliminary design, when the design staff is anxious to finalize details and release drawings. Design for manufacturability is the process of proactively designing products to optimize all the manufacturing functions: fabrication, assembly, test, procurement, shipping, delivery, service, and repair, and assure the best cost, quality, reliability, regulatory compliance, safety, time-to-market, and customer satisfaction.  An unbalanced view leaning too far towards Concurrent Engineering will produce a surfeit of activities involving teams, quality circles; ISO 9001, process modeling, QFD, and the DFX acronyms (Design for Manufacture), Assembly, Decommissioning, etc.

Concurrent Engineering is a long-term strategy, and it should be considered only by organizations willing to make up front investments and then wait several years for long-term benefits.  Definition Concurrent engineering is a business strategy which replaces the traditional product development process with one in which tasks are done in parallel and there is an early consideration for every aspect of a product's development process.  Strategic Plan of Concurrent Engineering recognized as a strategic weapon that businesses must use for effective and efficient product development.

Concurrent engineeringencompasses a range of practices and techniques. From a design control standpoint, it is sufficient to note that concurrent engineering may blur the line between development and production. On the one hand, the concurrent engineering model properly emphasizes that the development of production processes is a design rather than a manufacturing activity. On the other hand, various components of a design may enter production before the design as a whole has been approved. Thus, concurrent engineering and other more complex models of development usually require a comprehensive matrix of reviews and approvals to ensure that each component and process design is validated prior to entering production, and the product as a whole is validated prior to design release.

Concurrent engineering is only a set of process objectives and goals that have a variety of implementation strategies.  Definition Concurrent engineering is a business strategy which replaces the traditional product development process with one in which tasks are done in parallel and there is an early consideration for every aspect of a product's development process.  The Concurrent Engineering Approach is a business strategy which replaces the traditional product development process with one in which tasks are done in parallel and there is an early consideration for every aspect of a product's development process.

The process must be updated and revised on a regular basis to optimize the effectiveness and benefits in the concurrent engineering development process.  Increased Performance Companies recognize that concurrent engineering is a key factor in improving the quality, development cycle, production cost, and delivery time of their products.

For example, if manufacturing representatives are present early in the development cycle, the design can reflect fabrication requirements and cost can be reduced. 

The service uses concurrent engineering methods to bring together marketing, product design, manufacturing and business expertise to support the successful design and innovation of products and processes, is a philosophical approach to the way engineering should be carried out and is theoretically defined as a systematic approach to the concurrent design of products and their related processes, including manufacture and support.  The key to such an approach appears to lie in whether employees see it as manipulation or as an honest desire to communicate and understand their viewpoint.

Concurrent Engineering is the relatively recent term applied to the engineering design philosophy of cross-functional cooperation in order to create products which are better, cheaper, and more quickly brought to market. 

Concurrent engineering is the name of the game.