Design Process in Mechanical Engineering - Essay Example

?Mechanical Engineering: Design Process Mechanical engineers perform a wide range of activities that are geared toward the production of goods and services. One of the activities that mechanical engineers do is design. Design in this respect relates to the formulation of plans by an engineer that are used to construct a product that is geared to accomplishing a particular performance goal as noted by (Ullman, 2009). Mechanical engineers for example design products, tools, equipment, systems, and processes to meet various needs. Mechanical engineers may be required to design a product in order to meet a customer’s demand, to solve a particular problem experienced by their organization, or to introduce an innovative product in the market. The design process in many cases involves the application of mathematics, engineering, and basic sciences principles to optimally convert resources to meet specified aims. This paper discusses the design process from the perspective of mechanical engineering. Steps Involved in the Design Process Need or Problem Identification and Research In order to be able to solve an engineering or design problem, it is vital to identify the problem or need (Ullman 2009). When a design engineer fails to identify a problem or need properly, the engineer may end up wasting a lot of time and resources. In order to stick to the project goals, the mechanical engineers often rely on subjective and measurable metrics. Once the need or problem has been identified, the engineers must engage in research to establish the issue as it is currently and to establish the solutions that exist (Eide, Jenison, Mashaw and Northup 2002). By engaging in research, the engineers equip themselves to be able to come up with the best possible solution to the problem or need. The engineers must establish if there are products that have been designed to solve the same problem in the market and their advantages and disadvantages. Based on their findings, the engineers have to narrow down to what is relevant to their case. Potential Solutions The engineers often end up with a lot of information regarding products currently on the market and how they are designed. They have therefore to engage in brainstorming to come up with possible solutions and the advantages and disadvantages of each of the possible solutions (Eide, Jenison, Mashaw and Northup 2002). At this stage, the design engineer needs to think of ways of improving each of the possible solutions. The engineering designer needs to be creative in coming up with improvements to the products in the market or in designing a product that is novel. The performance of each of the possible solutions is then analyzed through the application of engineering science and mathematical principles (Eggert 2010). The analysis may be geared toward reducing risks and detecting problems that may come with the improved solutions. Best Possible Solution With several possible solutions to the problem or need, the design engineer then has to choose the solution that best meets the original requirements (Lumsdaine, Lumsdaine, and Shelnutt 1999). Making a decision regarding the solution to proceed with may be challenging and involves making the evaluation of competing needs. Some of the factors that may affect the choice of the best possible solution include cost, size, weight, and safety just to mention a few. Prototype Creation, Testing and Evaluation It would be imprudent at this stage for the engineers to proceed with the actual production of the product as designed before having it tested and evaluated. The engineers therefore need to create a prototype of the product if possible modeling in 2D and 3D using computer applications such as CAD software (Hyman 1998). The prototype is then tested and evaluated to establish if it works and meets the original design requirements and limits. Redesign The prototype may be slightly changed or improved in case of need once the prototype has been tested and evaluated. The changes or improvements are normally implemented to optimize the product so that it can offer the best possible results according to Ertasv and Jones (1996). Engineering Design and Sustainability With human activities negatively impacting the environment, there is a need for engineers to design products with sustainability in mind. Sustainable design demands that products are designed to comply with ecological, economic and social sustainability principles in mind according to McLennan (2004). Design engineers need to ensure that in the process of designing products, waste is minimized and the production process is as efficient as possible (Birkeland 2002). This is so considering that all kinds of waste have effects on local economies, public health, and the environment. Design engineers may need to design products using materials that are reusable and recyclable so as to help in reducing environmental pollution. Furthermore, products should be designed to use materials have low negative impact on the environment (McLennan 2004). For example, instead of design engineers designing building roofs to be made of asbestos that has grave effects on human health, they may choose to use clay that is environmentally friendly, durable, and readily available. Conclusion The design process is a complex process that involves several steps, sometimes iterations being done before the final design is approved for production. The design process usually begins with the establishment of objectives and ends in final production. After the objectives of a design have been established, research, conceptualization, and feasibility studies follow. The engineers then establish the requirements to be met by the design before proceeding to come up with a preliminary design. Based on the preliminary design, a detailed design of the product is made ready for production. In order for the production process to work seamlessly, production planning is done and the necessary equipment and tools for the production designed. One factor that mechanical engineers have to consider during the design process is sustainability. The products and systems that mechanical engineers design should be friendly to the environment, and efficient. The materials that mechanical engineers use for making products should be those that least harm the environment. They should be recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable. In this regard, natural materials are preferred for use in the making of products compared to many synthetic materials such as polythene and asbestos. References Birkeland J. 2002, Design for sustainability: a sourcebook of integrated ecological solutions, Earthscan, London. Eggert R. 2010, Engineering Design, Second Edition, High Peak Press, Meridian, Idaho. Eide A., Jenison R., Mashaw L. and Northup L. 2002, Engineering: Fundamentals and Problem Solving, McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., New York City. Ertas, A. and Jones, J. 1996, The Engineering Design Process, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Hyman B. 1998, Fundamental of Engineering Design, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Lumsdaine E., Lumsdaine M., Shelnutt J. 1999, Creative Problem Solving and Engineering Design, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York. McLennan J. 2004, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design. Ecotone Publishing Company LLC, London. Ullman D. 2009, The Mechanical Design Process, Mc Graw Hill, New York. Read More