Engineering DesignDesign is an acti

Engineering DesignDesign is an activity that facilitates the realization of new products and processes through which technology satisfies the needs and aspirations of the society. Engineering design of a product may be conceived and evolved in four steps:1.Problem definition: Extracting a coherent appreciation of need or function of an engineering part from a fuzzy mix of facts and myths that result from an initial ill-posed problem. The data collecion can be done via observation and/or a detailed survey.2. Creative pocess: Synthesizing form, a design solution to satisfy the need. Multiple solutions may result (and are sought) as the creative thought process is aided by the designers' vast experience and knowledge base. Brainstorming is usually done in groups to arrive at various forms which are then evaluated and selected into a set of a few workable solutions.3. Analytical process: Sizing the components of the designed forms. Requisite functionality, strength and reliability analysis, feasible manufacturing, cost determination and environmental impact may be some design goals that could be improved optimally by altering the components' dimensions and/or material. This is an iterative process requiring design changes if the analysis shows inadequacy, or scope for further improvement of a particular design. Multiple solutions may be evaluated simultaneously or separately and the best design satisfying most or all functional needs may be chosen.4. Prototype development and testing: Providing the ultimate check through physical evaluation under say, an actual loading condition before the design goes for production. Design changes are needed in the step above in case the prototype fails to satisfy a set of needs in step 1. This stage forms an interface between design and manufacture. Many groups encourage prototype failure as many times as possible to quickly arrive at a successful design.