ABSTRACT
Design for manufacturability (DFM) and concurrent engineering are proven design methodologies that work for any size company. Early consideration of manufacturing issues shortens product development time, minimizes development cost, and ensures a smooth transition into production for the quickest real time-to-market. Companies that have applied DFM have realized substantial benefits. Total cost and time-to-market can be cut in half with significant improvements in quality, reliability, serviceability, product line breadth, delivery, customer satisfaction, growth, and profits. When asked about the consequences of inadequate DFM, engineers and managers usually cite problems with quality, cost, delivery, profits, and competitiveness. Ultra-low-cost product development techniques have been used to develop the $2,200 Tata Nano, $100 computers (for the One Laptop per Child Foundation), $35 cell phones, and low-cost medical products such as the Siemens Essenza. The chapter also DFM techniques which provide proactive ways to achieve much greater cost reduction than can be achieved by reactive approaches.
