Concurrent engineering: models and solution approaches

Products and components are frequently traditionally designed without considering constraints imposed by a manufacturing system. In a concurrent engineering approach, design and manufacturing engineering are viewed as an integrated area. Perhaps the first and the most visible relationship between design and manufacturing has been explored by the design-for-automated assembly methods. Most of the design-for-manufacturing literature does not consider constraints related to manufacturing systems, but rather deal with manufacturing processes. Although the area of design-for-manufacturing processes is still evolving and remains an important effort within concurrent engineering, there is a need to look at other aspects of manufacturing. An aspect of manufacturing that offers a high potential for improvement of productivity is concerned with design-for-manufacturing operations. In fact the cost of operating a manufacturing system can be significantly reduced if enough consideration is given to design of products and components. Improvements in design processes should be accompanied by effective design of manufacturing systems. The design-for-manufacturing approach for each of the first two scenarios implies that a product should be designed for a manufacturing system that does not exist. Based on the principles of concurrent engineering, a product should be designed for a manufacturing system, as much as the manufacturing system should be designed for the product. Compromising the design of a product and design of a manufacturing system should improve the competitiveness of the industry. Manufacturing systems and processes should not just be viewed as passive constraints in design of products and components but remain active.