Many engineers employ the structured engineering design process to deliver solutions to customer needs. The process helps to structure a project, and encourages creativity. The objective raw data that is collected during the process can also aid in reducing the chance of bias and encourage more accurate decision making. In addition the engineering process teaches that failures and setbacks can be useful sources for future data.
The first step in the engineering design process is to define the problem. Engineers need to be clear about the purpose of their product to accomplish and the reason they require it. This step is crucial for the rest of your engineering process.
Once the issue is established, it is essential to gather as much knowledge about the solution to the need as you can. This can be accomplished by conducting research, asking tough questions and thinking about ideas. This is where engineering creativity really shines and where the most innovative solutions result.
Engineers need to consider possible solutions, analyze the pros and cons of each and select the most suitable. The solution must be able to satisfy the project’s requirements (e.g. cost, materials space, time, etc.) are all important aspects.
It is beneficial to develop a prototype following picking the best solution. Then tests can be conducted to determine whether the product is performing as it is supposed to do. By identifying problems in the beginning, it reduces overall project time to develop and also saves the cost of fixing issues later on.