CONTROL

DESIGN FOR X (DFX)

DEMO SESSION
2015

Design for X (DFX) Session Overview and Objectives

In this session, you will be able to:

Define Design for X
Use Design for X Tools and Techniques

List out the Characteristics for Design for X

2015

CONTROL
DESIGN FOR X (DFX)

DFX CHARACTERISTICS

DEMO SESSION
2015

Design for X (DFX)

Design for X (DFX) is defined as a
knowledge-based approach for
designing products to have as
many desirable characteristics as
possible.

The desirable characteristics

include: quality, reliability,
serviceability, safety, user
friendliness, etc.

AT&T Bell Laboratories coined the

term DFX to describe the process
of designing a product to meet the
above characteristics.

In doing so, the life cycle cost of a

product and the lowering of
downstream manufacturing costs
would be addressed.

The DFX toolbox has continued to

grow in number from its inception
15 years ago to include hundreds
of tools today.

The user can be overwhelmed by

the choices available.

F
2015

CONTROL
DESIGN FOR X (DFX)

DFX TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

DEMO SESSION
2015

Design for X (DFX)

The following material is based principally on the work of Watson:

Design guidelines:

DFX methods are usually

presented as rules of thumb
(design guidelines).

DFX analysis tools:

Each DFX tool involves some

analytical procedure that
measures the effectiveness of
the selected tool.

2015

Determine DFX tool structure:

A technique may require other

calculations before the
technique can be considered
complete.

Design for X (DFX)

Tool effectiveness and context:

The focus of activity and the

product development process:

Mapping tool focus by level:

Each tool can be evaluated-for usefulness by the user.

If the product development process is understood by the design team, the use of the
DFX tools will be of benefit.

The mapping of a tool by level implies that DFX analysis can be complex.

2015

CONTROL
DESIGN FOR X (DFX)

DFX CHARACTERISTICS

DEMO SESSION
2015

Design for X (DFX) - Characteristics

The following characteristics and attributes should be considered by DFX projects

Design for safety requires

the elimination of potential
failure prone elements, that
could occur in the operation
and use of the product.

These factors
are vital for
the product

A reliable design has

already anticipated all
that can go wrong with
the product, using the
laws of probability to
predict product failure.

Function and
performance:

Safety:

Reliability:

Quality:

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The three characteristics

of quality, reliability and
durability are required and
are often grouped
together in this category.

Design for X (DFX) - Characteristics

Testability:

Manufacturability:

The performance
attributes must be easily
measured.

Assembly:

Producibility and
manufacturability are
terms used since the
1960s. Design for
manufacturability (DFM)
has been the dominant
term used since 1985.

Environment:

DFA means simplifying

the product so that
fewer parts are involved,
making the product
easier to assemble. This
portion of DFX can often
provide the most
significant benefit.

2015

The objective is minimal

pollution during
manufacture, use and
disposal. This could be
defined as Design for the
Environment (DFE).

Design for X (DFX) Characteristics

Serviceability (Maintainability and

Repair ability):

Maintainability:

There should be:

A product should be returned to
operation and use easily after a
failure.

reduced down time for

maintenance activities; reduced
user and technician time for
maintenance tasks; reduced
requirements for parts and
lower costs of maintenance.

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User Friendliness or Ergonomics:

Some guidelines to consider are:

fitting the product to the users,
attributes, simplifying the users
tasks, making controls and
functions obvious, anticipating
human error, providing
constraints to prevent incorrect
use, properly positioning
locating surfaces, improving
component accessibility and
identify components.

Design for X (DFX) Characteristics

Appearance
(Aesthetics):

Attractiveness is especially necessary

for consumer products.

The size and physical characteristics of the product are

important, as are the economics of the package use.

Packaging:

Features:

Features are the accessories, options and

attachments available for a product.

The ability to have shorter cycle times in the

launch design of a product is desirable.

Time to
Market:

2015

Common DFSS Methodologies Summary

In this session, you have learnt about:

Design for X
Design for X Tools and Techniques
Characteristics for Design for X

2015