Version 1.0, August 31, 2001, Copyright, Hugh Jack 1993-2001

DI:9. MANAGEMENT

 

· Management differs from administration in that it sets a new course working on the policy making level - administration follows policy. There are many levels of administration and management.

 

· Questions that a manager will consider before putting together a design activity include,

  1. - Is the design for a small batch or mass production? smaller batches don't require as much effort in refining the design. The design cost becomes a significant part of the final cost.
  2. - Is the design an improvement or redesign of an existing product, or is it new? Product improvement/variation can be done with minimal technical effort. The amount of technical effort increases dramatically as we go to a new design.
  3. - What design functions are anticipated? This determines the types of roles on a design team. (These are listed in approximate order of responsibility and authority). Note: All of these roles are important in a successful design. There should be people assigned to each explicitly.
    1. 1. Marketing/Product manager - makes major market/customer decisions
    2. 1. Design Engineer - Makes major technical decisions an assesses results
    3. 2. Manufacturing engineer - makes decisions about production of product
    4. 2. Designer/Engineer - does detailed design work based on major decisions
    5. 3. Quality control engineer - evaluates quality problems and opportunities
    6. 3. Materials specialist - selects materials
    7. 3. Industrial designer - makes aesthetic decisions (typically an artist)
    8. 4. Drafter - completes drawings of parts
    9. 4. Technician - builds, tests, evaluates product
    10. 4. Vendor/Supplier Representative - a product manager from another company
  4. - How does the design naturally break into manageable parts? The team can be constant members in a static structure, or can have shifting responsibility and structure. An innovative design must allow more freedom and a dynamic structure. A well defined design should be use a clear structure and set of tasks.
  5. - How much time does the design require? Based on experience and some calculations a manager can set milestones for a design team. Typical tasks might include,
    1. - set specifications
    2. - generate concepts
    3. - test concepts with prototype/simulation
    4. - do detailed design
    5. - build full prototype
    6. - test and evaluate prototype
    7. - plan for tooling and production
    8. - test runs
    9. - full runs

 

· A manager will tend to follow a set of steps when planning,

 

 

 

DI:9.1 PRACTICE PROBLEMS

9.2 REFERENCES