ABSTRACT
This chapter paves the way for what would be covered later in the text. First, manufacturing is defined and the fundamental concepts related to it, such as the production turn, the product life cycle, the technology transfer cycle, fits, and tolerances, are explained. Next, the various stages that are involved in the design process are discussed. Finally, the product design process is emphasized as the main concern of mechanical/manufacturing engineers. The different factors affecting product design are discussed in detail and some real-world examples are also given. Issues like sustainability, law, and ethics are among these factors that are covered.
