ABSTRACT
This chapter intends to strike a balance between design engineering as an art and as a science. Design is practiced as an art in areas in which it could be practiced as a science. New materials and new manufacturing processes are two of the driving forces in design. Productivity begins with the design function and ends with the safe delivery of a reliable product to the consumer. Plastics are group of materials which will need careful investigation, and the situation is even more complex than when considering the various metals. The basic electrical properties of the various types of plastics are surprisingly similar, but the mechanical properties, such as density, show great differences. The fabrication of parts is the second manufacturing activity to be considered in the design process. This is undoubtedly the largest body of art the design engineer needs to draw on, and he or she should not hesitate to consult with the company's manufacturing engineers and technicians.
