Many engineers use the structured design process to address customer’s needs. The process adds structure to the project and stimulates creativity. The objective raw data gathered during the process can help reduce bias and improve decision-making. In addition, the engineering process teaches that failures and setbacks can be useful sources of future data.
Problem definition is the first step of the engineering design process. Engineers need to be clear about what their product is intended to accomplish and the reason they require it. This is essential for the rest of your engineering process.
Once the issue is identified, it is crucial to gather as much knowledge about the solution as possible. This can be done by research, asking critical questions and thinking about ideas. This is where engineering genius shines and where the most innovative ideas can be formulated.
Engineers must consider possible solutions and weigh their pros and cons prior to selecting the best. The solution must also fit the requirements of the project (e.g. cost, materials space, and time are all significant factors.
It is a good thing to build a prototype after selecting the best solution. Then tests can be run to find out how well the product is performing what it’s supposed accomplish. In identifying any flaws in the early stages it cuts down overall development time and helps save money in fixing problems later on.