06 Product Planning and Engineering

Question 1

Starting point of the product cycle

Answer 1

External and/or internal requirements and conditions

Question 2

Product Planning (definition)

Answer 2

Product planning comprises the systematic search and selection of promising product ideas and their further development on the basis of corporate objectives.

Question 3

Engineering (Definition)

Answer 3

The design features and thus the characteristics of product are determined in the engineering department.

Question 4

Aim of the development process

Answer 4

Develop cross-domain mechatronic systems already in the early phase.

Question 5

Mechatronics

Answer 5

It is critical to understand the views of every discipline involved
o Information Technology -> Software and automation technology
o Electrical Engineering -> Microelectronics, Power electronics
o Mechanical Engineering -> Mechanics, Precision Mechanics, Fluid Technology

Question 6

Phases of Product Planning

Answer 6

1. Product identification
   a. Ideation, Idea Selection, Product definition
   b. Forms the basis for deriving a realization proposal for the actual product development and design.
2. Product planning tracking
   a. Runs parallel to product realization
3. Product monitoring
   a. Runs parallel to market introduction, sales and distribution, until the products are discontinued
   b. Product control, Product management

Question 7

Phases of Product Identification

Answer 7

 Idea generation: Identification of new product ideas within given search fields, taking into account the company’s potential

 Idea selection: Promising product ideas are selected

 Product definition: Transfers promising product ideas into development orders.  Realization proposal is created that describes the development plan in order to enable companies to make a final decision about the development of that product

Question 8

Requirement Specification

Answer 8

The purchaser writes the whole receivables from foods and services of one order and contractor in the requirement specification.  Does not include any kind of solution/feature

Question 9

Feature Specification

Answer 9

The contractor writes his engineering intentions in the feature specification. These intentions have to put the requirements from the requirement specification into practice. -> Specifying what the solution looks like to meet the requirement specification.

Question 10

Product Planning Tracking - Purpose

Answer 10

• Development of a suitable product tracking plan
• Periodic to-be/as-is comparison with development request
• Analysis of occurring to-be/as-is deviations
• Decision on and, if necessary, initiation of adaption measures

Question 11

Product Planning Tracking - Subtasks

Answer 11

• Structure of a suitable product tracking plan
• Periodic actual findings and comparisons with the target of the data contained in the development request
• Analysis of occurring to-be/as-is deviations
• Decision on the need for adaption measures
• Preparation of adjustment proposals

Question 12

Product Planning Tracking - Most important planning data

Answer 12

• Costs
• Key dates, e.g. planned market launch date
• Sales values (quantity, price, competition)
• Amortization ratios

Question 13

Product Planning Tracking - Aim

Answer 13

Use a suitable monitoring system, to determine the market, company and product deviations from the original planning.

Question 14

Product Monitoring/control

Answer 14

 Product control is a continuous task with the objective of identifying deviations from the key figures planned for the products during product sales

Question 15

Product Monitoring/control - Two steps

Answer 15

• Identifying and analyzing weak points
• Deriving improvement measures

Question 16

Product Monitoring/Control - Aim

Answer 16

Monitor the cost and success behavior of products and initiate suitable measures in the event of deviations from the plan

Question 17

Engineering - Work Steps according to VDI 2221

Answer 17

1. Clarifying and specifying the task
2. Determination of functions and their structure
3. Search for solution principle
4. Segment into realizable modules
5. Designing essential modules
6. Designing the whole product
7. Documentation of working and using tasks

Question 18

Engineering Tools - Morphological Box

Answer 18

The morphological box is a creative heuristic method which fully grasps complex problem areas and considers all possible solutions unprejudiced.

o Provides in a first step the definition f characteristics  Important to ensure that the characteristics are independent of each other and that they can be operationalized with regard to the application-specific context

o All possible values for each characteristic are listed  Matrix with each combination represents a theoretically possible solution

o Result: Different combinations of characteristics, from which alternative solutions can be developed

Question 19

Engineering Tools - Characteristics List

Answer 19

o Used to group, delimit and select standardized and non-standardized, tangibles and intangible objects that are similar to each other.

o Support the documentation and storage as well as the exchange of data of objects in files with the help of information technology procedures -> Characteristic lists are part of the product documentation

o Characteristic values can be defined as numerical values with units, numerical values without units, attributive values or coded values

Question 20

Advantages of the Characteristics List

Answer 20

• Simplified data search by grouping similar objects
• Explicit object description without loss if information
• Possibility of application in all areas of the company

Question 21

Disadvantages of the Characteristics List

Answer 21

• Only single-stage classification
• Access to the characteristics list results from designation
• Strictly standardized rules for the usage are necessary

Question 22

Four steps of development towards smart products

Answer 22

1. Step: Data acquisition and processing
   Monitoring of products can be guaranteed by the integration of appropriate sensor technology and external data sources.
2. Step: Assistance Systems
   Makes it possible for embedded software systems to provide predefined notification or direct implementation of instructions for action for defined environmental conditions.
3. Step: Networking service orientation
   Enables the independent evaluation of collected data as well as forecasts of one’s own functionality.
4. Step: Self-organization and autonomy

Question 23

Agile Product Development

Answer 23

Focus is on time control of workloads by dividing the period between two gates into several consistent timer intervals -> e.g. SCRUM methodology

o This approach accelerates the classic development of technical products by integrating agile processes and methods

Question 24

SCRUM Methodology

Answer 24

 Divides the entire development task into individual cycles (sprints) -> Typically form a basic grid between 5-20 working days due to their uniform cycle length
 At the end of a sprint, short review meetings are held -> Create a workflow for the independent processing of development activities
 Shorter feedback loops enable a focus on customer value and avoidance of waste along the development process

Question 25

Generative Design

Answer 25

Design method, which produces most different design alternatives by a set of rules, and/or an algorithm -> Essential restrictions and parameters are specified by the designer

Question 26

Advantage of Generative Design

Answer 26

Achieve same performance with significant weight savings (e.g. topology optimization)