Chapter Summary

A basic design process is shown in Fig. 4.1. This figure itemizes the major tasks in any product design effort.

There are specific design process techniques to support the planning, specification definition, conceptual design, and product development phases of the design cycle. They are listed in Table 4.1 and will be developed throughout the rest of this book.

The design process techniques help design quality into products.

The techniques help the design effort in its earliest stages, when the major decisions are made. Additionally, the techniques encourage communication, force documentation, and encourage data gathering to support creativity.

Communication is an integral part of the design process. The techniques described in this book produce design records; less formal work on the product needs to be kept in a design notebook.

The design of a simple product that will add a suspension system to a bicycle will be used as an example in the following chapters.

2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.