No abstract

This paper reports on the development of a framework for the evaluation of design concepts early in the design process through the use of a set of Generalized Manufacturabi1ity Indices (GMI). The indices are aimed at providing designers with a deeper insight into design issues which affect manufacturabi1ity than is available from a pure cost estimate. It is argued that at very early stages of design, cost estimates are inappropriate. Also, the GMI’s provide a more quantitative estimate of the manufacturability of a design than the use of design guidelines. The generalized nature of the GMI’s enables application of this approach to very dissimilar designs. The merging of manufacturing issues upstream in the design process through the framework presented here, is expected to increase both the speed and quality of product design.