Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Product engineering design'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Product engineering design.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Product engineering design.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Schütte, Simon. "Engineering emotional values in product design : Kansei engineering in development /." Linköping : Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ, 2005. http://www.ikp.liu.se/kansei.
Full text
2
Hansen, Martin. "A Friendly Product : A Kansei engineering study." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Industridesign, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-46316.
Full textAbstract:
This master thesis is about exploring the possibility to concisely and deliberately apply a feeling on a product medium. The report features the process and results of using the kansei engineering methodology to develop and evaluate a friendly vibrator (pleasure product). The thesis is performed at a master level in the program of Industrial Design at Jönköping University.
3
Schütte, Simon. "Engineering Emotional Values in Product Design : Kansei Engineering in Development." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Maskinkonstruktion, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-497.
Full textAbstract:
Feelings and impressions of a product are important for the decision of purchasing it or not. Designing attractive products therefore requires knowledge about the feelings and impressions the products evoke on the customer and the user. Integrating such affective values in product design requires the introduction of suitable methods into companies’ product design processes, methods which can capture and convert subjective and even unconscious feelings about a product into concrete design parameters. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Affective Engineering’. One methodology in this context is Kansei Engineering, which has been developed in Japan in order to design feelings into products. The aim of this thesis was twofold: Firstly, to improve understanding of the nature of products making emotional impact on the users and customers. Secondly, to identify and improve methods capable of grasping those affective values and translating them into concrete product design solutions. This thesis presents three empirical studies and two methodological papers, relating to warehouse trucks and laminate flooring. The first study was made on user impact of warehouse trucks in three different European countries. A second study dealt with affective values of rocker-switches in work vehicles, such as warehouse trucks. A third study on this truck type compared the old manoeuvring panel evaluated in the previous studies with a newly introduced manoeuvring panel in order to validate the impact of the design improvements made after the first study. Further, a conceptual model on Kansei Engineering methodology was proposed in a methods paper based on the experience from the studies performed in order to provide a structure for performing Kansei Engineering studies. The fifth paper had the purpose of validating and improving the proposed model using laminate flooring as research object. More structured ways of identifying design parameters and relevant product properties was given high priority in the improvement work of the methodology. A model for spanning the Space of Product Properties was presented and applied. This thesis also deals with other improvement areas in the methodology and proposed new developments, including the use of scales, experimental design and validation methods. In conclusion, Kansei Engineering is a concept and a methodology in strong development, a framework in which tools and methods are continuously developed, added and integrated.
4
Bradley, Hugh D. "Aggregate process planning and manufacturing assessment for concurrent engineering." Thesis, Durham University, 1997. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4719/.
Full textAbstract:
The introduction of concurrent engineering has led to a need to perform product development tasks with reduced information detail. Decisions taken during the early design stages will have the greatest influence on the cost of manufacture. The manufacturing requirements for alternative design options should therefore be considered at this time. Existing tools for product manufacture assessment are either too detailed, requiring the results of detailed design information, or too abstract, unable to consider small changes in design configuration. There is a need for an intermediate level of assessment which will make use of additional design detail where available, whilst allowing assessment of early designs. This thesis develops the concept of aggregate process planning as a methodology for supporting concurrent engineering. A methodology for performing aggregate process planning of early product designs is presented. Process and resources alternatives are identified for each feature of the component and production plans are generated from these options. Alternative production plans are assessed in terms of cost, quality and production time. A computer based system (CESS, Concurrent Engineering Support System) has been developed to implement the proposed methodology. The system employs object oriented modelling techniques to represent designs, manufacturing resources and process planning knowledge. A product model suitable for the representation of component designs at varying levels of detail is presented. An aggregate process planning functionality has been developed to allow the generation of sets of alternative plans for a component in a given factory. Manufacturing cost is calculated from the cost of processing, set-ups, transport, material and quality. Processing times are calculated using process specific methods which are based on standard cutting data. Process quality cost is estimated from a statistical analysis of historical SPC data stored for similar operations performed in the factory, where available. The aggregate process planning functionality has been tested with example component designs drawn from industry.
5
Beckert, Michelle T. 1969. "Organizational characteristics for successful product line engineering." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82681.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2000.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116).
by Michelle T. Beckert.
S.M.
6
Morrise, Jacob S. "Collaborative Products: A Design Methodology with Application to Engineering-Based Poverty Alleviation." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2831.
Full textAbstract:
Collaborative products are created when physical components from two or more products are temporarily recombined to form another product capable of performing entirely new tasks. The method for designing collaborative products is useful in developing products with reduced cost, weight, and size. These reductions are valued in the developing world because collaborative products have a favorable task-per-cost ratio. In this paper, a method for designing collaborative products is introduced. The method identifies a set of products capable of being recombined into a collaborative product. These products are then designed to allow for this recombination. Three examples are provided to illustrate the method. These examples show that a collaborative block plane, apple peeler, and brick press, each created from a set of products, can increase the task-per-cost ratio of these products by 42%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. The author concludes that the method introduced herein provides a new and useful tool to design collaborative products and to engineer products that are valued in the developing world.
7
Riedel, Johann Christian Karl Henry. "Design-production interface in the UK mechanical engineering industry." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/90562.
Full text
8
Page, Matthew E. (Matthew Edwin) 1975. "Blending engineering modeling, industrial design, and physical prototyping in product design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28225.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-64).
Engineering simulation models, industrial design form models, and physical experimentation through prototypes are critical elements of successful product design. However, the three disciplines are disconnected and the direction of simulations, form models, and physical prototypes often diverge increasingly as product detail is developed. This divergence often results in an expensive and time consuming design cycle and inferior product quality. The first 10% of the cycle is taken up largely by conceptual design, an iterative stage that requires close interaction between industrial designers, modelers and engineers. In the current state of the art, information is often lost when models are approximately reconstructed from physical prototypes, CAD or surface models. A new approach to the conceptual design cycle is developed and applications for the design of consumer products are discussed. The tools that make up the cycle work together to create a flexible, iterative design environment. Industrial designers, engineers, and modelers generate and exchange form concepts, alternating between physical and digital representations of product geometry. Rapid alternation between the physical and digital domain is enabled and information flow between iterations is improved.
by Matthew E. Page.
S.M.
9
Atherton, Mark Anthony. "Effective product design enhancing robust engineering design and quality function deployment." Thesis, City University London, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.389704.
Full text
10
Su, Benjamin W. "Weelchair exercise roller product design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32959.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 35).
Inspired by bicycle training rollers, a wheelchair exercise roller (an exercise machine for the application of wheelchair users) was designed from conception of idea to alpha prototype. Background and market data was gathered through research with disabled people, members of disability and rehabilitation centers, and by examining other existing related products. Initial designs were created, and using these designs, functional requirements were set. These functional requirements were used to determine the main product modules (rollers, frame, and ramp) and desired features (simulated natural inertia/forces, varying resistance, tilt feature, etc.) Keeping these in consideration, initial calculations and hands-on research were performed in particular to determine the effect of radial load and RPMs on the bearings. Then, by using test modules built with inline skate bearings, aluminum tube, and wood 2"x 4"s, the initial calculations and research were tested. The results of these tests helped to determine the eventual final design. Solid modeling software (Solidworks 2005) was then used to create various design iterations and make changes as needed.
(cont.) Finally, using the final solid model, a functional prototype was built using 2"x 2" aluminum angle, conveyor belt rollers, and plywood. This prototype was then tested under the conditions the product was originally intended to function under. The result of these tests showed that in the current state, the prototype was not at a level ready to be marketed. The rollers in their current state did not fully simulate the natural inertia and forces felt when rolling on real ground. Also, several desired features had not yet been implemented. However, the prototype did succeed in ultimately showing potential functionality and feasibility of the product.
by Benjamin W. Su.
S.B.
11
Ejder, Marcus, and Walles Hans König. "Basic Engineering Time : Assembly Time Driven by Product Design." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekonomi och organisation (Inst.), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-128173.
Full textAbstract:
In today’s competitive automotive market, many of the world’s leading organizations utilize the Lean manufacturing philosophy in order to increase productivity and stay competitive. With this philosophy come many great methods for improving processes, where focus is put on reducing or eradicating any actions or process that fail to create value for customers, the so-called waste. However, one question that remains is how fast a process actually can be. Having “40% waste”, how can one know if this is the endpoint of a successful efficiency improvement journey, or if the waste can be reduced all the way down to 0%? This Master thesis seeks to identify where this endpoint is located for a specific design of the product, aiming to help organizations allocate improvement work to where it does the greatest impact. Hence, knowing if the endpoint for a process already is reached, organizations can steer improvement work to R&D departments instead of trying to improve something not capable of improving. The findings show that organizations can use the results from this study in more than just one context. Not only will it complement the Lean philosophy by providing a measure of the absolute shortest durations for each individual activity or process under ideal conditions, but also will it facilitate communication between R&D and assembly departments at an earlier stage of the development process by quantifying the impact of different design choices on the total assembly time.
12
König, Walles Hans, and Marcus Ejder. "Basic Engineering Time : Assembly Time Driven by Product Design." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekonomi och organisation (Inst.), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-133304.
Full textAbstract:
In today’s competitive automotive market, many of the world’s leading organizations utilize the Lean manufacturing philosophy in order to increase productivity and stay competitive. With this philosophy come many great methods for improving processes, where focus is put on reducing or eradicating any actions or process that fail to create value for customers, the so-called waste. However, one question that remains is how fast a process actually can be. Having “40% waste”, how can one know if this is the endpoint of a successful efficiency improvement journey, or if the waste can be reduced all the way down to 0%? This Master thesis seeks to identify where this endpoint is located for a specific design of the product, aiming to help organizations allocate improvement work to where it does the greatest impact. Hence, knowing if the endpoint for a process already is reached, organizations can steer improvement work to R&D departments instead of trying to improve something not capable of improving. The findings show that organizations can use the results from this study in more than just one context. Not only will it complement the Lean philosophy by providing a measure of the absolute shortest durations for each individual activity or process under ideal conditions, but also will it facilitate communication between R&D and assembly departments at an earlier stage of the development process by quantifying the impact of different design choices on the total assembly time.
13
Maffin, David James Bentley. "Engineering design and product development in a company context." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/311.
Full textAbstract:
Engineering design and product development are sources of competitive advantage for companies faced with increasing competitive pressures in home and overseas markets. A fundamental requirement for this is the ability to identify market opportunities and to effectively and efficiently translate these into successful products. Product development is a complex and difficult task which involves both intra- and inter-firm processes, and requires many pressures and considerations to be considered. There is a considerable literature on the subject which provides guidance to companies. However, this makes generalisations concerning the nature of the competitive environment and it tends to be general in scope and prescriptive in nature. As a result, companies find that a considerable onus is placed on them to interpret the literature's recommendations. This research concentrates on the processes of product development and, in particular, the role of the engineering design function and its relationship with other aspects of the manufacturing operation. It contributes to our understanding of the influence of the company context on the processes of engineering design and product development. The relevant literature has been examined and a model of best practice factors has been derived. A research methodology based on empirical study and a contextual framework for comparative analysis has been developed that provides a way of distinguishing between generic and company specific features of engineering design and product development and identifying which elements of best practice are appropriate and achievable for the companies studied. Empirical investigations and analysis have been based on twelve in-depth case studies and interview survey data for a further seventeen establishments from the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors of UK manufacturing industry. The empirical results suggested that the literature's recommendations on best practice have a number of shortcomings. Some aspects of best practice were found not to be generally applicable. It was also revealed to focus narrowly on certain types of project and, because it deals with general requirements, it often does not indicate how best practice should be implemented. The investigation identified that, although a considerable amount of good practice was been implemented by companies, several important strategic and managerial activities were associated with less good practices. The research also suggested that, as a result of the complex and diverse nature of companies and their projects, good practice for any one company is dependent on its unique attributes. Against this background it has been concluded that a framework that enables the engineering design and product development processes to be interpreted in the context of a particular company is preferable to prescribing generalised models, which may result in attempts to implement inappropriate approaches.
14
Musgrave, Kenneth C. "A multi-disciplinary, concurrent engineering, product development model for industrial design." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/22380.
Full text
15
DiBacco, John 1976. "Laser cutting applications in product design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9571.
Full text
16
Graham, Marc Miller. "Teaching product development by deterministic design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36194.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-180).
The objective of this work was to develop a deterministic design and teaching process for the creation of new products ranging from books, to music, to consumer products. The foundation of the process is the Peer-Review Evaluation Process (PREP). The process is especially useful for diverse teams of designers with members from various cultures, races, genders and personalities. It is especially useful for helping team members who are not comfortable with verbal group brainstorming or one-on-one type interactions to contribute to the development of designs. Projects were completed by teams largely comprised of underrepresented minority and female students using Deterministic Design with PREP. Design teams were monitored and students from six consecutive years of a design course were given questionnaires to determine the level of collaboration and designer satisfaction throughout the development process. Questionnaire responses indicate increasing levels of collaboration throughout development and above average satisfaction with the process. Students indicated that since learning the process, over 45% use PREP 75% of the time and over 75% use PREP at least 50% of the time when working with others.
(cont.) Three patents have been issued from products developed using this process, and one is pending. The process has been introduced to universities in South America and Europe and a teaching manual is being published. Two goals are to continue to introduce Deterministic Design with PREP to other schools, organizations, and disciplines, and to start an Urban Design Corps.
by Marc M. Graham.
Ph.D.
17
Cohen, Tal. "A data approach to tracking and evaluating engineering changes." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/17971.
Full text
18
Pedersen, Kjartan. "Designing platform families : an evolutionary approach to developing engineering systems." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/18189.
Full text
19
Bocanegra, César 1972. "Design and implementation of the Product Development Design Decomposition (PD³)." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88880.
Full text
20
Engelhardt, Fredrik. "Robust product development by combining engineering design and designed experiments." Doctoral thesis, Stockholm, 2001. http://www.lib.kth.se/Sammanfattningar/engelhardt010601.pdf.
Full text
21
Levitt, Benjamin (Benjamin P. ). "Product service transformation in product-centric firms." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90716.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 95-97).
In slow or no-growth economies, firms cannot rely solely on recurring business from large, core customers who often delay or cancel capital investments in belt-tightening times. To achieve growth, firms must lever domain knowledge to expand business markets to find new customers. A core method to accomplish this expansion is through service models that can provide recurring revenues without as much up-front investment for customers. However, in a product-centric firm, the process of transforming a product into a service can be complex, and is the motivation for this research. No other complete explanation of this process has been published to date. The goal of researching this process is to give direction to managers who are considering transforming a product into service. The research led to building a service model using the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) Radar System as its subject. The CASA Radar System is an X-Band Phased-Array Radar used for weather forecasting and environmental warning, led by University of Massachusetts with the assistance from several universities and industry partners. The radar system provides capabilities that did not exist previously in larger and less price effective systems, but was only available to be acquired directly, for upwards of $600 million. The CASA model sought to show how transforming the radar system from a product to a service could create value for the UMASS led team by selling more systems in a new service model to new customers, including weather-sensing firms and non-profits that want access to the CASA Radar System and would even pay for it, but were unable to support its standard capital costs.
by Benjamin Levitt.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
22
Clausson, Leif. "Business Innovation by utilizing Engineering Design Theory and Methodology." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Skolan för industriell teknik och management (ITM), 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-3857.
Full textAbstract:
Industrial companies that carry on innovation and operation must have well-organized and capable business systems and processes. Customer needs, market demands, global competition and technological changes drive the companies to be more adaptable, flexible and dynamic. By working in network structures as extended enterprises, the companies face new possibilities and new challenges. Design, manufacturing and delivery of high quality products to competitive prices to the customers are essential for industrial companies. Holistic view of the product life cycle from technology development, via product and business system development and realization, to business operation, is important for sustainable industrial companies. A company with engineering and manufacturing of products in a business context needs to have effective innovation of business system and process. Business innovation encompasses the area from business idea to business operation and includes customer demands and solutions. The main part of business innovation is development of the product platform including product and support structures. Product variants are created and realized by various configurations of products and production systems. The thesis is elucidating that business innovation can be carried out by working in a systematic and structured way and by utilizing engineering design theories and methods. The business models, based on a new theory with a new navigation tool for interactions, are describing which activities should be performed in business innovation with product platform development and product structuring. For companies in business with changes, innovations can create new markets and products. Well-managed and innovative companies have good possibilities to be competitive in a tough business environment. The creation of business innovation models has been carried out according to a hermeneutic research method. The research work followed the hermeneutic circle or spiral. The thesis introduces a new dimension to the design area, namely business innovation or engineering, corresponding to business design and development. Business innovation is also a new type of innovation, combining technological, product, process, market and organizational innovations in industrial companies.QC 20100920
23
Tatangsurja, Hendra. "Digital filter design using stored product ROMs." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/5332.
Full text
24
Deniz, Juan C. (Deniz Carlos) 1976. "Learning theory applications to product design modeling." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/89269.
Full text
25
Pore, Mridula. "Pharmaceutical tablet compaction : product and process design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51623.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references.
This thesis explores how tablet performance is affected by microstructure, and how microstructure can be controlled by selection of excipients and compaction parameters. A systematic strategy for formulation and process design of pharmaceutical tablets is proposed. A modified nanoindenter method was used to test the mechanical behavior of diametrally compressed excipient granules. X ray micro computed tomography and Terahertz pulsed spectroscopy (TPS) and imaging (TPI) were used to analyze the microstructure of the tablet core and detect internal defects. Granule failure mechanisms are found to be consistent with tablet microstructure. MCC granules deform plastically when tested and X ray images show individual granules undergoing increasing deformation in tablets as higher compaction forces are used. A highly interconnected pore-structure limited tablet hardness and led to bursting behavior during dissolution. No effect of compaction force or speed was observed in dissolution profiles. Lactose granules fracture at strains less than 5%, forming monolithic structures with no evidence of initial granule shape or size. Pore size decreases as compaction force is increased for DCL 11 tablets. A decreasing pore size corresponds to increasing THz refractive index, tablet hardness and dissolution time. DCL 11 and DCL 14 tablets compacted under the same conditions have the same pore size distributions and hardness, although DCL 14 granules are weaker than DCL 11, and DCL 14 tablets dissolve up to four times slower than DCL 11 tablets. No difference was observed between the THz spectra of tablets made from the two grades of lactose.
(cont.) Further work is needed to understand the physical significance of the THz measurements. TPI can detect laminated tablets and is faster than X ray micro CT. In order to develop a rational design methodology, two key areas for future research are building a process model for compaction and developing quality testing methods that can be analyzed mechanistically. The capstone project explores strategic decision making for innovator firms and generic drug manufacturers in the period surrounding patent expiry. Statin products were used as an illustrative case of a pharmaceutical technology experiencing commoditization. A system dynamics model was used to simulate historic results and explore options for products still under patent protection. Current models of technology market dynamics apply to statins, but regulation and legislation play a large role in controlling market entry, leading to strong sequencing effects.
by Mridula Pore.
Ph.D.
26
Gonzalez-Zugasti, Javier P. (Javier Patricio) 1965. "Models for platform-based product family design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9300.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-97).
Platform-based product families have been an effective way for companies to offer increased variety into markets, while containing the resulting complexity of developing large numbers of products. A product platform is the set of resources - components, processes, technologies, and knowledge - that are shared across multiple products offered by a firm. The products derived from that common platform are called the variants, and the set of variants forms a product family. This thesis presents a theoretical basis for modeling the design of platform-based product families, as well as practical implementations based on those models. The problem is formulated as an optimization, where the requirements of the desired variants must be balanced against family objectives, such as maximizing the value of developing the family. A general case is formulated that covers the effects of using a platform-based design on the benefits and investments required to produce the desired family. The problem is then simplified into a two-step optimization approach to apply it to actual design situations for complex products. The first stage considers the technical details of creating feasible product families that satisfy the variants' requirements while optimizing the expected value to the firm. The second stage evaluates the design alternatives generated by the first step, considering the effects of uncertainty during the actual development of the family on its value to the firm. This evaluation is then used to select the most appropriate choice of family design. A case study of the design of multiple NASA exploratory space missions based on alternative telecommunications technology platforms is shown. Applying the approach resulted in several alternative family designs, some of which had not been previously considered viable. The resulting candidate designs were evaluated through the use of decision analysis models developed in this thesis, which calculate the value to the firm of each design. Simulation was then used to evaluate the value of each alternative and its flexibility to changes in uncertain factors during the development process. As a reference, a Pugh-type selection method (a qualitative, multi-criteria approach) was also explored and applied to the example of platform-based spacecraft design.
by Javier P. Gonzalez-Zugasti.
Ph.D.
27
Borland, Nicholas (Nicholas Paul) 1971. "Integrating environmental impact assessment into product design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46239.
Full text
28
Hounsell, Marcelo da Silva. "Feature-based validation reasoning for intent-driven engineering design." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1998. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/33152.
Full textAbstract:
Feature based modelling represents the future of CAD systems. However, operations such as modelling and editing can corrupt the validity of a feature-based model representation. Feature interactions are a consequence of feature operations and the existence of a number of features in the same model. Feature interaction affects not only the solid representation of the part, but also the functional intentions embedded within features. A technique is thus required to assess the integrity of a feature-based model from various perspectives, including the functional intentional one, and this technique must take into account the problems brought about by feature interactions and operations. The understanding, reasoning and resolution of invalid feature-based models requires an understanding of the feature interaction phenomena, as well as the characterisation of these functional intentions. A system capable of such assessment is called a feature-based representation validation system. This research studies feature interaction phenomena and feature-based designer's intents as a medium to achieve a feature-based representation validation system.
29
Scudieri, Paul Anthony. "Information in Complex Product Systems." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1236698805.
Full text
30
Mowrey, Corinne H. "Retail Facility Design Considering Product Exposure." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1472487958.
Full text
31
Xin, Chen Hilario Lorenzo. "Modelling resources in simulation engineering design processes." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2017. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/269709.
Full textAbstract:
The planning and scheduling of appropriate resources is essential in engineering design for delivering quality products on time, within cost and at acceptable risk. There is an inherent complexity in deciding what resources should perform which tasks taking into account their effectiveness towards completing the task, whilst adjusting to their availabilities. The right resources must be applied to the right tasks in the correct order. In this context, process modelling and simulation could aid in resource management decision making. However, most approaches define resources as elements needed to perform the activities without defining their characteristics, or use a single classification such as human designers. Other resources such as computational and testing resources, amongst others have been overlooked during process planning stages. In order to achieve this, literature and empirical investigations were conducted. Firstly, literature investigations focused on what elements have been considered design resources by current modelling approaches. Secondly, empirical studies characterised key design resources, which included designers, computational, testing and prototyping resources. The findings advocated for an approach that allows allocation flexibility to balance different resource instances within the process. In addition, capabilities to diagnose the impact of attaining specific performance to search for a preferred resource allocation were also required. Therefore, the thesis presents a new method to model different resource types with their attributes and studies the impact of using different instances of those resources by simulating the model and analysing the results. The method, which extends a task network model, Applied Signposting Model (ASM), with Bayesian Networks (BN), allows testing the influence of using different resources combinations on process performance. The model uses BN within each task to model different instances of resources that carries out the design activities (computational, designers and testing) along with its configurable attributes (time, risk, learning curve etc.), and tasks requirements. The model was embedded in an approach and was evaluated by applying it to two aerospace case studies. The results identified insights to improve process performance such as the best performing resource combinations, resource utilisation, resource sensitive activities, the impact of different variables, and the probability of reaching set performance targets by the different resource instances.
32
Daley, John. "Autonomic product development process automation /." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2007. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd1958.pdf.
Full text
33
Smith, Alfred, and Jari Oikarinen. "Design study of a new product." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Maskinteknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-40877.
Full textAbstract:
This bachelor thesis in product development and design, done at Jönköping University in collaboration with Husqvarna AB, presents a design study for a new product. Jari Oikarinen and Alfred Smith performed the design study. Initial research, including a project plan and a pilot study, provided the framework for the work ahead. The implementation contains a case study, concept study and an experiment involving the product. Different concepts were evaluated but one was chosen as most viable. The design study finishes with the results, that some internal components needed to be changed or modified to operate the product, presentation of the final concept and the test of the product. Lastly, further work is recommended based on this report.Detta examensarbete inom produktutveckling och design, genomförd på Jönköping University i samarbete med Husqvarna AB, presenterar en designstudie för en ny produkt. Designstudien är utförd av Jari Oikarinen och Alfred Smith. Inledningsvis strukturerades arbetet av en projektplan och en pilotstudie. Genomförandet innehåller en fallstudie, konceptstudie och ett experiment på produkten. Flertal koncept blev utvärderade tills en var kvar. Designstudien avslutar med resultaten, att vissa interna komponenter behöver bytas eller förändras för att kunna använda produkten, presentation av det slutliga konceptet och prövning för produkten. Slutligen rekommenderas ytterligare arbete utifrån denna rapport
34
Messer, Matthias. "A systematic approach for integrated product, materials, and design-process design." Diss., Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/22608.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008.Committee Chair: Allen, Janet K.; Committee Member: Aidun, Cyrus K.; Committee Member: Klein, Benjamin; Committee Member: McDowell, David L.; Committee Member: Mistree, Farrokh; Committee Member: Yoder, Douglas P.
35
Mortenson, Schiveley Sara Beth 1975. "Ergonomic product and process design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34758.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 66).
Ergonomic injuries are not the result of acute events. An ergonomic injury develops gradually from continued actions combining force, motion repetition, posture, and duration. Because these injuries accrue over time, it is often difficult to determine their causes. Lacking a clear causal link, it is difficult to justify investments that are intended to prevent ergonomic injuries. A large computer manufacturer, Dell Inc, is targeting significant reductions in their factory injury rates. This thesis describes the evaluation of two desktop computer manufacturing facilities. As part of this work, OSHA logs from 2002 were analyzed, injury costs were collected, factory workers were surveyed, and biomaterials associated with ergonomic injuries were studied. The analysis of the OSHA logs determined that 70% of factory injuries were ergonomic in nature and that a majority of the ergonomic injuries occurred as a result of work in the computer assembly (build) area. The costs associated with ergonomic injuries were computed on a cost per box (CPB) basis, a common metric used throughout Dell factories to determine financial impact. In order to evaluate, improve, and monitor the ergonomic factors on the factory floor, an evaluation tool for product and process design was developed. This tool incorporates risk factors of force, motion repetition, and posture while determining ergonomic scores for products and process steps. Tool validation was achieved by comparing ergonomic scores with worker product preferences, as revealed by an employee survey. Currently, the ergonomic evaluation tool is being used by the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Department at Dell. A greater understanding of the causes behind ergonomic injuries, combined
(cont.) with use of the evaluation tool, is contributing to Dell's efforts to continuously reduce the occurrence of ergonomic injuries and associated costs.
by Sara Beth Mortenson Schiveley.
S.M.
M.B.A.
36
Sousa, Inês (Maria Inês Silva Sousa) 1972. "Integrated product design and life-cycle assessment." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46141.
Full text
37
Ayas, Ebru. "Engineering Quality Feelings : Applications in products, service environments and work systems." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Ergonomi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-43388.
Full textAbstract:
Contemporary quality issues in product design are moving from materialistic to emotional user fulfillment; comprehensive research is needed to examine quality product feelings. This research is directed toward a deeper understanding of user and customer quality feelings for different product types, including services. The quality feelings concept includes dimensions of product quality, especially functionality, ergonomics and aesthetics. The first objective of this thesis is to identify, prioritize and synthesize quality feelings into product attributes in product development applications. The second objective is to explore, test and propose methodological approaches for designing quality feelings into products. Several methods from psychology, ergonomics, statistics and probabilistic methods and heuristics were applied to achieve the objectives. From a methodological viewpoint, Likert scales, free elicitation technique and Just About Right scales were applied for data collection. Multiple Regression, Factor Analysis, Correspondence Analysis, Genetic algorithms, Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Rough Sets (RS) were applied for data analyses. For ergonomic product evaluations, direct observations, 3D workload simulations, time and frequency analyses were conducted. Five product applications are included in this thesis: operator driver cabin design of reach trucks, steering wheel design trigger switch design in right-angled nutrunners, bed-making systemsproducts and waiting room environments. Heuristic methods were found effective when there is a high number of product attributes that interact to provide quality feelings. RS results are consistent with PLS attribute predictions. When the number of product attributes is large in comparison to the number of observations, PLS extracts informative results for quality feelings. The RS method is effective in identifying interactions among design attributes. Quality feelings are associated with both tangible (tactile characteristics) and intangible (quick and easy to use) product characteristics. Words such as safety, functionality, ergonomics, comfort, reliability, supportiveness, usability, feedback, pleasantness, attractiveness, durability and distinctiveness describe quality feelings from tangible products and services. Based on product type, the quality dimensions represented by these words possess different interactions and dependencies. In work environments, products act as prostheses between workers for social interaction, which need to be considered as important quality feelings dimensions.QC 20111017
38
Ahmed, Uday, and Priscilla Ayo. "Developing Common Questions about Integrated Product Service Engineering (IPSE), Ecodesign and Engineering Education." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Industriell Produktion, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-118760.
Full textAbstract:
In the recent years, more and more manufacturing firms recognize the benefit of providing products together with related services with an aim to gain higher profits as compared to supplying products without additional services. On the other hand, the competition in the global markets has been increased dramatically through increased sales of services in order to gain additional value for their products. In addition, several environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, global warming impact, greenhouse gases emissions have played a vital role by influencing on the production protocols and trend of the companies. These challenges forced manufacturing countries to take into consideration environmentally conscious approach to their design thinking and industrial production processes. As a result, it became an important drive for manufacturing industries to shift from traditional product-oriented to service-oriented business models that has been witnessed during the last few years. The objective of this study research is to develop common questions that capture fundamental and common issues about Integrated Product Service Engineering (IPSE), Design for Environment (DFE) and Engineering education are effectives for industries to check and develop their knowledge, because the Engineering education plays a necessary role in associating socio-ethical knowledge with scientific and technological advances. The strategy taken to conduct this thesis task was first to study and understand the concept of Product Service System (PSS), IPSE, and Ecodesign as well as Engineering Education. Informative knowledge on these concepts were collected by reviewing several related journal articles, CIRP IPS2 conference proceedings. In this thesis the concepts of PSS, IPSE, DFE and Engineering Education discussed to develop the key common questions and issues to address the environmental, economic and social problems. Since PSS aims to reduce consumption through alternative schemes of product use as well as to increase overall resource productivity and dematerialization, but IPSE does not focus on a single factor but incorporates a wide range of factors such as environmental, social and economic issues. Whilst one of the main problems in this research focused on how to develop and strengthen the relationship between the academia and industry, and how this relation can be used to improve the academic performance and scientific research at universities and transfer them to industry. Sustainability and the life cycle concept have become a main solution for various problems such as a growing world population and a change in the industrial culture to come. As results Ecodesign and environmental considerations, financial aspects, product improvement as well as the commercial aspects were discussed in this project by understanding the previous concepts. The university considered as an important base of cultivating the talents, basic of inputs business organizations which help them to develop and improve their level of performance and quality of their products and services, and enhance its competitive position in the market. Changes in organized science further encouraged university interests in expanding technology transfer, because the scientific disciplines play an important role in influencing the type of interactions with industry as well as the University and Industry collaboration became the basic method of solving the problems to achieve (environmental, economic and social) sustainability.
39
Marshall, Russell. "Design modularisation : a systems engineering based methodology for enhanced product realisation." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1998. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/2176.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis contains product design modularisation and its potential for meeting manufacturing and marketing needs. The premiss is that product manufacturing organisations have failed to take advantage of the full potential, taking a reactive approach to modularisation within their product architecture and subsequent manufacture. The aims of this thesis are to develop a systems level framework for product and process integration, develop a strcutured methodology for design modularisation and finally, evaluate modularity through case analysis and software modelling.
40
Nordlöf, Ida. "Kansei Engineering for small business : Shedding new light on product design." Thesis, KTH, Maskinkonstruktion (Inst.), 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-168721.
Full textAbstract:
The aim for this thesis was to apply Kansei Engineering to a small business and to design desktop light for office environment. Kansei Engineering is a method developed to turn the user's feelings and experiences into concrete product parameters. A method called Kansei Engineering Type I was applied to the desktop light. The aim of the method was to investigate which product parameters regarding the form that will give the users the most positive impression. The procedure was to extract Kansei word (adjectives, nouns, verbs and sentences that describes what the user should experience in the product), a sample of products and formulate a survey with a semantic differential scale. A sample of potential users from various companies answered the survey. The results from the survey was analyzed and interpreted. In the end the Kansei words could be connected to various product parameters and the parameters for the most positive impression could be concluded. This method was supplemented with creative methods which involved a survey and workshop with potential users and a brainwriting session with the company the author collaborated with. A few concepts were made and one were chosen. This concept was developed further using mockups. In the end a model was made using CAD and drawings was delivered to the company of collaboration.Målet för detta arbete var att tillämpa Kansei Engineering på ett litet företag och att formge en skrivbordslampa för kontorsmiljö. Kansei Engineering är en metod som utvecklats för att omvandla användarens känslor och upplevelser till konkreta produktparametrar. En metod som kallas Kansei Engineering Typ I applicerades på skrivbordslampan. Målet med metoden var att undersöka vilka formparametrar som kommer att ge användarna det mest positiva intrycket .Proceduren var att ta fram Kansei ord ( adjektiv , substantiv , verb och meningar som beskriver vad användaren ska uppleva av produkten ), ett urval av produkter och utforma en enkät med en SD-skala. Ett urval av potentiella användare från olika företag besvarade enkäten. Resultaten från undersökningen analyserades och tolkas. I slutändan kunde Kansei orden kopplas till olika produktparametrar samt formparametrarna för det mest positiva intrycket kunde konkluderas. Denna metod kompletterades med kreativa metoder som involverade en enkät och workshop med potentiella användare och en session brainwriting med företaget som författaren av detta arbete har samarbetat med .Några koncept togs fram och en valdes . Konceptet utvecklades ytterligare med hjälp av prototyper. Till slut togs en modell fram i CAD och ritningar levererades till företaget.
41
Yang, Hong Mo. "An approach to product design using a product performance versus cost model." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/13418.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1991, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1991.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 73).
by Hong Mo Yang.
M.S.
42
Simpson, Timothy W. "A concept exploration method for product family design." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/17508.
Full text
43
Ayubi, Harry H. "Advanced skills required for engineering leaders in global product development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/70795.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-88).
Observations from first hand experience on the Boeing 787 Program during development of perhaps the most important and exciting new commercial airplane in recent history has identified opportunities to enhance the global product development skills of key engineering leaders. Extreme challenges related to typical factors (e.g., cost, schedule, quality) are coupled with a radically different business model - one shaped by a product development strategy that relies heavily on globally dispersed risk-sharing partners. In addition, the 787 would use dramatically new carbon composite materials and manufacturing methods for the airplane structure, as well as advanced technologies for the airplane systems and propulsion. This was further complicated by the parallel development of new design software intended for use in creating, sharing, and managing all 787 product definition data. The lead design engineer - among the most critical resource on the product development team - must engage on all fronts. Given the complexities of this endeavor, advanced skills are necessary for engineering leaders to succeed, and Boeing must ensure they have these skills. This research was intended to specify some of these advanced skills, identify deficiencies in the current workforce, and suggest ways in which industry and academia might team together to address such deficiencies.
by Harry H. Ayubi.
S.M.in Engineering and Management
44
Hernandez-Mena, Lucas. "National product design competition for high school students." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54533.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 26).
Sir Ken Robinson said, "We don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it or rather we're educated out of it."' Throughout my education I have found this statement to be true especially in it's relation to high school education in America. This lack of creativity-based education is the inspiration for this thesis work. As a high school student I was able to participate in a few robotics competitions, such as FIRST Robotics Competition, that enabled me to begin thinking creatively about problems. These competitions were focused on allowing students to gain engineering experience and inspiring them to pursue a degree in a science or technology field. However, the competitions tended to primarily attract students who are already interested in these fields. This thesis will propose and provide motivation for an Internet-centric, national product design competition for high school students that will teach and inspire the use of creativity for a wide range of students that have interests in many different fields. This document begins with highlighting and outlining the main competitions, programs, and classes that have been drawn on for the creation of this competition. Then, the main motivation and goals of the competition are outlined. Lastly the structure of the competition and the online community is described. The competition proposed in this thesis is perhaps a utopian ideal structure that requires further development and consideration before it can be implemented in the high school setting. Some future development includes surveying high school teachers on the practicality of such a competition in relation to their personal experiences with the interest level and capabilities of high school students.
(cont.) Also a large a part of the future work would include the development and testing of the online community as a portal for high school students to learn and share about product design. Lastly, future work will involve an intensive analysis of the financial requirements incorporated with the implementation of a competition of this nature.
by Lucas Hernandez-Mena.
S.B.
45
Winther, Garrett L. (Garrett Lee). "Case study in rapid product design and development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68538.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 66).
This thesis explores a new strategy in developing products quickly, cheaply and efficiently, with the hopes to redefine the paradigms behind the product design process. This was carried out through the development of the product "flatRat", a commemorative MIT novelty ring. With this product, we explored different prototyping techniques, manufacturing processes, and business strategies with the hope to optimize the process for others to carry out similar projects. This thesis summarizes a selection of work from the development of flatRat from concept generation to final product sales. The ultimate goal of this project was to bring a product to life with limited resources. From the project's beginning in June, 2009 to its capstone in February, 2011, flatRat was designed and developed fully into a marketable product followed by an initial manufacturing run of 500 units. These were sold to MIT's Class of 2013 Ring Committee and given away to attendants of the "Ring Premiere" Ceremony on February 11, 2011. This product is currently being developed further to be sold at the MIT Museum and Campus Bookstore. The process developed around this product is currently being implemented at Olin College of Engineering under Dr. Lawrence Neeley.
by Garrett L. Winther.
S.B.
46
Frey, Daniel D. (Daniel David). "Using product tolerances to drive manufacturing system design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/10446.
Full text
47
Cividanes, Alberto J. (Alberto José) 1978. "Optimal scheduling of design reviews in product development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/89347.
Full text
48
Peak, Russell Speights. "Product model-based analytical models (PBAMs) : a new representation of engineering analysis models." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/18379.
Full text
49
Andersson, Moa. "Product development and design of industrial sensors." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH. Forskningsmiljö Produktutveckling - Industridesign, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-36113.
Full textAbstract:
IoT- technology, Internet of Things, is a fast-growing business, it means that more and more products, clothes, even people are provided with sensors that can communicate and perceive the surroundings to create a smarter community. For companies to keep up to date, it is essential to continuously provide products with better components and reduced size. To stand out further, companies should provide revolutionary products, with totally new feature. One of these ideas, of a new kind of product with special features, have been investigated and developed in this thesis. The thesis has been conducted with the company CombiQ, located in Jönköping, Sweden. The product that was going to be developed was an industrial sensor, that uses the technology of IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, that the company develops. At the time when this project took place, CombiQ did not sell any own product, only the technology that was placed inside the products. To develop the industrial sensor for CombiQ, not only the functions of the product had to be investigated, further the brand had to be analyzed to create a design expression reflecting the company. Through implement several tools and methods, from among other things the product development process and design thinking, a concept of an industrial sensor is presented that fulfill the specific requirements and functions. Where the main-feature is that the sensor should be a modular solution to be adjusted for the specific need of the clients. Furthermore, during the project a visual brand language with design guidelines have been developed to reflect the design aspects of the company CombiQ. Design guidelines can be used for further product for the company in the same manners, which also has been displayed by developing design concept of the rest of the industrial sensor that counts to the same product family as the modular sensor.IoT-teknologi, Internet of Things, är en snabbt växande marknad, det innebär att mer och mer produkter, kläder, även människor förses med sensorer som i sin tur kan förstå omgivningen och kommunicera, detta för att skapa ett smartare samhälle. För att företag ska kunna vidhålla positionen på marknaden är det viktigt att hela tiden erbjuda produkter med bättre komponenter och mindre till storleken. För skapa en starkare position, företaget borde erbjuda revolutionerande produkter med unika egenskaper. Det är en av de här idéerna som har undersökts i det här examensarbetet. Arbetet har skett under ett samarbete med företaget CombiQ, belägen i Jönköping. Produkten som skulle tas fram var en industriell sensor, som skulle använda sig av IIoT-teknologin, Industrial Internet of Things, som företaget utvecklar. Tidpunkten när det här arbete utfördes, CombiQ hade inga egna produkter men all teknologi som sitter i sensorerna. För att ta fram en industriell sensor för CombiQ behövde inte bara möjligheterna att tillverka en produkt utefter funktionerna undersökas. Varumärket behövde även analyseras för att utveckla en produkt som uttrycker företaget och dess varumärke på rätt sätt. Genom att tillämpa metoder och verktyg från både produktutvecklingsprocesser och designprocesser, kunde ett koncept tas fram som uppfyllde de uppställda kraven och funktionerna. Den huvudsakliga funktionen i sensorn var att produkten skulle bestå av moduler och på det viset kunna justeras utefter vad kunden behöver. Vidare, under projektet har även CombiQ som varumärke undersökts och riktlinjer för designen har tagits fram som reflekterar företaget och dess varumärke. Design riktlinjerna kan användas för att ta fram ytterligare produkter med samma maner, vilket har visats i detta arbete genom att ta fram designkoncept på ytterligare produkter som räknas till samma produktfamilj som sensorn med moduler.
50
Bryant, Scott T. "User centred engineering in automotive design: A shift from technology-driven product development." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2015. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/84793/1/Scott_Bryant_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The research assessed how best to transition engineering-based automotive firms towards more customer-orientated design and development approaches, whilst identifying the main barriers and concerns facing such a shift. The research investigates the ability of a firm to empower individual engineers with user centred design tools traditionally used by designers, whilst understanding the company-wide needs to facilitate their implementation.