Design Tools for Engineering Teams

Transition to a learning organization

As the complexity of technology advances, so will its interdependence, advances interdependence requiring individuals with skills in designing and managing projects from holistic view-point. In turn, this has created a new business structure, a transition from that of a hierarchical organization to that of a learning organization. f f

Historical View of Working Styles

People in leader support team, a person has to lead instead of boss for success.

Team Success
Successful teams utilize contributions of each team member.

When a team builds interdependency, it becomes stronger than any one individual. This is synergy.

Identify Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Team Member

Some key areas where differences will arise and may have impact on how the team can perform will be in communication styles, the way a person organizes their work habits, the level of expertise and training an individual brings to a group, and how individuals respect an respond to each other.

Creativity, Innovation and the Engineering Design Process g

Creativity and innovation can and should be used throughout the engineering design process to develop better design processes, testing and evaluation methods criteria definition, and investigate techniques.

Mindmap Model of Creativity

The idea is to generate as many ideas as possible by beginning with central theme or topic.

Brainstorming g

Landing Gear: Evolution of Design

Identifying the need
Upon id tif i a specific need, U identifying ifi d in this case, new type of retractable front landing gear, discussions and ideas a e generated produce concept that are ge e ated to p oduce co cept t at addresses an initial solution to the identified need.

Detailed Design Drawings

After the design is finalized, it is necessary to develop all of the detailed finalized engineering drawings.

Design Testing and Evaluation

During the testing and evaluation phase, the goal is to see if the product will t l meet goals and expectations when placed under actual ill truly t l d t ti h l d d t l operating conditions.

Redesign and Improvement

One f t l O of truly revolutionary changes l ti h in product design with the use of computer models is the ability to play the What If game. g

Designers Concept Sketches

For new concepts or major design changes, the design process begins with the designers concept sketches.

Designing the Ford Focus

Computer Model and Finished Product

By using computer aided design engineering models, engineers and designers are able to quickly review design alternatives and changes.

With the design, development and testing complete, the car is ready for its public introduction.

Process of change in technical operations.

This change p g produced a flatter and leaner organization that has removed layers of management and supervision. Responsibility for processing analyzing processing, analyzing, and decision making has moved to the workers at the lower level on the corporate ladder, and the continuous rapid advancement in technology will further this phenomenon, since a person who processes and analyzes information will likely find in the future that computers are doing this job. The interpretation and application of this data ill till be in the hands f the d t will still b i th h d of th designer or engineer. Success with a company will be measured by the individual s individual's skills to be flexible and creative, to solve problems within a system, and to acquire a broad knowledge of the total organization

Knowledge is shared
Along with these benefits also comes an increased accountability and responsibility for the use of this information. The average designer can no longer create a design or prototype without consideration of market needs, costs or quality issues. The drafter, technician or designer can no longer bl l blame engineering management or i i sales if the product fails. The responsibility is shared and along with that, the responsibility to contribute to the problem-solving process that moves barriers away to reach the corporate goal.

Quality Function Deployment

Problem Solving is a Process

1. Establish the scope 2. 2 Develop the project plan 3. Select the key performance variables to benchmark 4. Identify potential participants 5. 5 Measure your own performance 6. Measure performance of benchmarking participants 7 Compare current data 8. Identify best p y practices and enablers 9. Formulate your strategy 10. Implement the plan 11. Monitor results 12. Plan for problem solving

Problem-Solving Strategies for Team

Consider the ways of the ant y
Ants are the most advanced social insects The industrious ant accomplishes tasks that are much larger than themselves. They have been observed carting an entire chicken bone back to their colony from some unsuspecting picnickers. How do they do this given the smallness of their size? Ants work together to accomplish and g p problem solve amazing tasks. What can we learn from the ants? That working together in cooperation for a common goal brings about results. One ant could not have budged the chicken bone, but together, a team of ants were able to move it a great distance. This cooperation brought about support, improvement, mutual help, and ultimately trust within the group.

When to Use Tools Available to Support the Problem-Solving Process Problem Solving
. Identify the problem - The problem is brought forward from any party within the total system. The problem is identified as a condition or state that is different from the desired state. Define the problem - Once the problem is identified it requires a process to clarify it in terms of the local situation The outcome of this stage is a well situation. defined problem statement. Research the cause of the problem - To research the cause of a problem, it is necessary to explore the root cause. This is accomplished by collecting and analyzing data using statistical tools. Explore solutions - Once the root cause of the problem is known then the team can explore the possible solutions to correct the problem. Act on the solution - Once a solution is selected it must be tried and tested. Observe the solution - Select best practices.

End f Chapter E d of Ch t