Design for Manufacturing or DFM and its Principles

The goal of the product design approach known as “Design for Manufacturing" is to produce better designs at a lower cost by carefully choosing materials and manufacturing procedures. DFM aids in the analysis of various aspects of design and manufacturing processes in the context of numerous prudent principles. It offers fresh concepts and methods to change product design in a way that is advantageous to all parties concerned (designer, manufacturer, and customer).

DFM Principles

We will learn about the various areas in which the designer must concentrate when producing a DFM-friendly product in this section. By improving each of those components, you can make the product as a whole the best it can be. These five focus areas are Process, Design, Material, Environment, and Compliance/Testing. Let's learn about them in detail.

1. Process

You want a manufacturing procedure that will do the job efficiently and affordably. The group will evaluate what will satisfy those two requirements for your project the most effective during design for manufacturing. You shouldn't use a highly specialized process to produce something that could be produced more affordably and with the same quality using any other method.

2. Design

Your team will evaluate your design by examining how well your drawings follow industry standards for manufacturing, taking into account the chosen manufacturing method for your product. All the specifications that are pertinent to your manufacturing process should be noted in this design.

3. Material

It's essential to choose the appropriate material for your part or product. Mechanical, optical, thermal, colour, electrical, and flammability properties are a few of the material characteristics to take into account during DFM. Once more, make sure to talk about the material with your contract manufacturer. They might have access to materials that are already in their portfolio and be able to help you negotiate a lower material price.

4. Environment

Your product must not only be made of the right materials but also be designed in such a way that those materials function under the conditions that are likely to happen. Naturally, a part that needs to operate at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean will have a very different design from one that will always be in climate-controlled buildings.

5. Compliance/Testing

Every product must pass a specific number of tests. They could be requirements for general safety or calibre. Or, you might have requirements set by your organization or even industry standards. It's important to take into consideration any standards it needs to meet before the product enters the manufacturing stage.

The team removes all the extra bulk and accounts for any potential savings by taking this vital step in the design for the manufacturing process. What may appear to be an extra step actually has many possibilities to speed up the production of your product and reduce costs. Rutland Plastics is an award-winning plastic injection moulding company offering a complete range of services along with providing effective design and efficient Design for manufacturing solutions in The UK. Visit today.