Design for Manufacture
Vital to Manufacturing Competitiveness

Design for Manufacture is a systematic approach that allows engineers to anticipate manufacturing costs early in the design process, even when only rough geometries are available on the product being developed.

Given the large number of process technologies and materials available, few design engineers have detailed knowledge of all the major shape-forming processes. Consequently, engineers tend to design for manufacturing processes with which they are familiar. DFM methodology encourages individual engineers and concurrent development teams to investigate additional processes and materials and to develop designs that may be more economical to produce. With more information about viable processes and materials, users can quantify manufacturing costs for competing design alternatives and decide which design is best.

Design for Manufacture provides guidance in the selection of materials and processes and generates piece part and tooling cost estimates at any stage of product design. DFM is a critical component of the DFMA process that provides manufacturing knowledge into the cost reduction analysis of Design for Assembly.

DFM Concurrent Costing is a software tool to generate cost estimates for both piece part cost and tooling investments. Unlike existing parametric cost estimating models, DFM Concurrent Costing does not rely on historical data and therefore allows you to generate accurate cost estimates for new designs and explore alternative materials and processes.

Benefits of using DFM Concurrent Costing software

A Highly Accurate Cost-Estimator
Gain quick insight into the tremendous cost impact of even simple changes to part dimensions. DFM Concurrent Costing provides a fast, accurate way to review evolving designs for cost efficiency by quickly simulating the use of alternate materials and comparing various shape-forming processes.

An Aid to Concurrent Engineering
Shorten product development cycles by working collaboratively on cost decisions. Because DFM Concurrent Costing is so easy to use, designers and manufacturing engineers can work closely with personnel from marketing, finance and purchasing to analyze alternative materials and process options.

A Useful Design Tool
Redesign existing products for better quality and manufacturability while still adhering to manufacturing cost requirements. DFM Concurrent Costing effectively aids redesign by offering quick testing of alternate materials and processes.

An Effective Vendor-Negotiating Aid
Evaluate vendor quotes by comparing the information the software provides on such items as total cost, cycle time, machine size and die cost. DFM Concurrent Costing gives even nonspecialists a foundation for meaningful discussions with vendors.

A Competitive Benchmarking Tool
Compare your designs with competitors’ products to determine market feasibility and to target costs. Because of its accuracy in predicting costs, DFM Concurrent Costing adds advantage to companies seeking to enter competitive industries.

The Link to Design for Assembly

DFM complements Design for Assembly (DFA). Engineers use DFA software to reduce the assembly cost of a product by consolidating parts into elegant and multifunctional designs. DFM software then allows the design engineer quickly to judge the cost of producing the new design and to compare it with the cost of producing the original assembly. Used together, DFM and DFA software give engineers an early cost profile of product designs, providing a basis for planning and decision making. Such analysis, when performed at the earliest stages of concept design, has the potential to greatly influence manufacturing and other life cycle costs before they are locked in.

Contact us to begin controlling your costs with DFM Concurrent Costing.

Nick Dewhurst demonstrates DFM Concurrent Costing

Additional topics:

Design for Manufacture

Design for Assembly

Design for Environment

Supplier Costing

Target Costing

Concurrent Engineering

Client testimonials:

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson is working with its vendors to reduce costs while allowing the vendor his profit margins. “At the core of our program is the understanding that real savings come from helping suppliers reduce the cost of materials and improve the manufacturability of their designs. The software accurately models part costs, providing a quantitative basis for evaluating competing design alternatives.”

“Technologies of the Year: DFM Concurrent Costing,” by Tim Stevens, IndustryWeek, December 2002

BROCHURE

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