Background
of the DFMA tool
Design
for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) is the process of proactively
designing products to optimise all the manufacturing functions and
assure the best product performance. Parts are designed for ease of
fabrication and commonality with other designs. DFMA encourages standardisation
of parts, maximum use of purchased parts, modular design, and standard
design features. Designers will save time and costs by not having
to "re-invent the wheel". This tool is sometimes known as
Design For Manufacture (DFM) and Design For Assembly (DFA).
The DFMA tool
The design
stage is very important in product design. Most of the product lifecycle
costs are committed at design stage. The product design is not just
based on good design but it should be possible to produce by manufacturing
as well. There’s no point having a good design if it is difficult,
impossible or costly to produce.
The manufacturing of a part or a product must be considered as being
part of the design of the part or product. It is not a separate entity
that someone else deals with after the part or product has been designed.
The DFMA tool is a structured process that encourages the design engineers
to very seriously consider how their design will be manufactured.
The DFMA process steps are:
- The
cost of re-work
- Manufacturing
problems both current and past
- Number
of parts
- Modular
designs
- Standard
components
- Ease
of manufacturing
- Manufacturing
capabilities
- Mistake
proofing (poka-yoke)
- Parts
orientation and handling
- Automated
production
- Fasteners
- Flexible
parts and interconnections
- Assembly
direction
- Adjustments
and settings
- Design
tolerances
Applications of the DFMA tool
The DFMA
tool can be used where any parts or products are being developed and
is used extensively in the Automotive environment. Essentially the
DFMA process should be applied in the development of any products
where, efficient and effective manufacture and assembly is important.
This could be in new product concepts or if the market is very competitive
and a product advantage is needed.
The DFMA training course
This on-line
DFMA training course starts with an overview of the DFMA tool and
the DFMA process. The training course then guides the trainee through
a step by step process of how to conduct the DFMA process throughout
the product development cycle. Worked examples are given of an DFMA
applied to product development. This training course is given in English
and is designed to impart the capability to conduct the DFMA process.
This DFMA training course comes complete with a free download of an
DFMA template and the necessary charts. No prior knowledge is required
or assumed and no special tools are needed.
This on-line
DFMA training workshop is for anyone undertaking product development
activities where efficient and effective manufacture is important.
A DFMA excel template is provided.
Taking the DFMA training course
Access
to this great on-line DFMA training course is time limited and not
usage limited. Once payment has been received we will issue a user
name and a keycode that gives unlimited user access to the training
course. This user name and keycode can be used as many times as needed
and by as many individuals as needed.