Half-day workshop presented by SME Northern Lights Chapter #370
Admission: $149
Product Design for Easy Manufacturing
Even the best ideas cannot become successful products if they cannot be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. A key part of the product design process is the knowledge and application of manufacturing methods: creating a product that can be easily made. Yet all too often, production considerations are an afterthought, and it’s up to the manufacturer to somehow shave costs out of a sub-optimal design.
Many designers consider ease of machining the parts that go into their designs, but there are many factors that can make or break a good product: total part count, ease of assembly, serviceability, appearance, and more. We’ll start with the two vital questions every product team must answer before they start, and then explore the other factors affecting product cost.
We will investigate some examples of successful products by breaking them down into their basic components, and then looking at the methods used in their production and assembly. We will share analytical methods and our experience to help you and your teams turn your ideas into a successful reality.
Some specific topic areas will include the following:
- how to approach the challenge of minimizing product cost
- design for machining
- design for additive manufacturing
- design for casting and moulding
- design for assembly
- resolving the conflicts that arise between all the different “rules”
The session will be led by two seasoned DFM practitioners: David deJong and Darryl Short, co-owners of Karma Machining & Manufacturing Ltd., and long-term members of SME. Every day they share their experience to help local innovators improve their products and make them easier to produce, with the ultimate goal of keeping manufacturing in Canada.
The registration fee includes the workshop notes, and tools you can use to improve your own product development efforts. Lunch will also be provided. All proceeds from this workshop will be used to support the activities of SME Northern Lights Chapter #370, including technical meetings, tours, and the annual Capstone Awards at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta.
