A methodology for predicting the effect of engineering design changes

Abstract

To sustain competition, it is necessary for designers to contrive changes in a product. These changes are often denoted in literature as engineering changes. The engineering changes when committed, can have percolating effects on other design aspects of the product, manufacturing processes, machines, materials, labor, operating time and cost. In order to implement an engineering change, it is necessary for designers to predict the effects on different stages of product development. We developed a methodology that would help in predicting the effects of engineering changes on the product and the manufacturing environment. In our work, we simplify the product and manufacturing environment into simple parameters that are imposed in a Design Change Prediction Matrix (DCPM). The matrix also stores the dependency between these parameters. Using the matrix, we developed an algorithm that would lead to development of a prediction tool in future.