Evolution of Design for X Tools Applicable to Design Stages: A Literature Review

Abstract

Design stage is very critical as many decisions impacting the downstream development activities and the product cost are made in this stage. Over the years, numerous “Design for X (DfX)” concepts/methods have been developed in order to increase the efficiency at the design stage, and reduce the total product cost and development lead time. Design for manufacture, assembly, quality, maintenance, environment, obsolescence and recyclability, etc. are among these. Despite the availability of these numerous concepts/methods, a “big picture” to illustrate the relations and the interactions among these X factors remains absent. In the paper, we attempt to provide our version of this “big picture” along with maturity and trajectory of these factors as identified from the published literature.

Redesigning Product Workflow for Excellence

“…As already mentioned, there are a large number of DfX techniques available to develop excellent products. Chiu and Okudan [3] categorize DfX approaches in methods with 1) product scope (e. g. design for quality (DfQ), reliability (DfRe), assembly (DfA), manufacture (DfM), etc. ); 2) system scope (e. g. design for logistics (DfL), supply chain (DfSC) etc.…”

“…Using the categorization method described by Chiu and Okudan [3], redesign criteria are selected and adapted to the special requirements of legacy process and semiconductor production rather than using new product requirements. The results are criteria for the four categories of manufacturing processes, sequences and systems, as well as key performance indicators (kpi) which are listed in Table II.…”

“…For this reason scientists from various disciplines try to utilize this development time and propose a large variety of Design for Excellence (DfX) techniques to develop successful products [3]. "X" is a variable that stands, in the case of "Design to X", mostly for objectives, e. g. costs.…”

The implication of rapid technologies on the design process

“…The design phase is highly crucial due to the nature of decisions involved that account for more than 70% of part life cycle cost. Therefore, greater efforts are usually spent at this early stage to avoid problems and higher cost at downstream activities (Chuan & Okudan, 2010;Ullman, 2010).…”

“…During this stage, different design practices and guidelines such as design for manufacturability, assembly and others are used to ensure efficiency in creating successful and cost-effective designs (Chuan & Okudan, 2010).…”