The engineering process is a set of steps that engineers follow to design and build products. There are numerous models of the engineering process with many or fewer steps, however most follow a similar pattern. In this article, we will examine a 9-step engineering design process that engineers use to solve specific problems.
The first step in the engineering design process is to define the problem. This is an important step, since failing to clearly and precisely define the problem could stall projects at a later time in the design process. Often, the solution to a problem can be found in this stage. For instance, when students were asked to come up with a solution to secure their lunch hooks to the bottom of their desks they came up with a simple method of attaching a hook to the bottom of the desk.
In the next step, a requirements analysis is conducted to identify the specifics of the client’s requirements and resources available. This helps you develop a clear set of project requirements and limitations. If a customer requires a product that can hold 20 pounds of weight, the engineer will calculate the maximum weight that the system can support and the size of the hook to ensure that it is able to hold the full lunch for all students.
The next stage, also known as design synthesizing or design planning, is where the specifics are set and the precise design of the final product is designed. This phase involves creating the inputs and outputs http://emjay-eng.com/generated-post/ of the various modules that comprise the system, as well as their interconnections. The tools used during this phase include Gantt and Pert charts, resource loading spreadsheets sketchbooks, drawings, and prototype models.