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The Engineering Design Process

by Don Rhine

Click here to see the presentation (.pdf file) on the first day of class that introduced the course and the UMass Lowell Assistive Technology Design Fair.

The Engineering Design Process (EDP) is a more formal approach used to design a product. The design cycle shown to the right is very similar to the formal product development cycle that you would find in many companies. For example, the Department of Defense uses a simlar process to guide the development of major weapon systems. Of course, maybe they aren't the best example to use given all of the negative press one reads about major cost and time overruns on these multi-billion dollar programs!

In any case, the EDP will help you step through the product developemnt process in a rational manner. Of course the alternative approach is to plow forward with half-cooked ideas, use potentially wasteful trial-and-error methods, or start building without any plans whatsoever. Sometimes these latter methods work, but your team should use the EDP to guide your process.

Go to the pages below to learn how the Engineering Design Process can be use to guide your team as you design Assistive Technology projects for disabled clients in you local communities!

• 8. Redesign