Many engineers employ an organized design process to address customer’s needs. The process provides structure to a project, and encourages creativity. The objective raw data gathered during the process can help reduce bias and promote better decision making. The process of engineering also helps to teach that setbacks and failures are valuable sources of data for future projects.
Problem definition is the very first stage of the engineering design process. Engineers need to be clear on what their product will do and the reasons for its existence. This is essential for the rest of your engineering process.
After the problem has been identified, it is vital to get as much information about the solution as is possible. This can be accomplished through researching, asking difficult questions and thinking about ideas. Here is where engineering creativity shines through and is where the most inventive ideas can be generated.
Engineers need to identify possible solutions and weigh their pros and cons before selecting the best. The solution must also fit the specifications of the project (e.g. materials, cost, time and space).
It is recommended to build a prototype after choosing the best solution. Then tests can be conducted to determine if the product does what it’s supposed to. It is possible to cut down the overall project development time by identifying any flaws at an early stage. This can also save costs on fixing issues later.