Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Design und Ingenieurwesen / Español: Diseño e ingeniería / Português: Design e engenharia / Français: Conception et ingénierie / Italian: Progettazione e ingegneria

Design and Engineering in the context of quality management refers to the processes involved in planning, developing, and creating products, systems, or structures with a focus on meeting specified quality standards. In quality management, these processes are crucial for ensuring that products are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also safe, reliable, efficient, and compliant with regulatory and customer requirements.

Description

In quality management, design and engineering encompass the early stages of product development, where key decisions about materials, processes, functionality, and compliance are made. Effective design and engineering are fundamental to achieving high quality, as many potential issues can be prevented by addressing them during the design phase. Quality management in design and engineering involves integrating quality considerations from the outset, using systematic approaches to ensure that the final product meets all required standards.

Key components of design and engineering in quality management include:

• Design for Quality: Incorporating quality considerations into the design process to ensure that products are reliable, safe, and meet customer needs. This includes designing for manufacturability, durability, and ease of maintenance.
• Engineering Standards and Specifications: Adhering to industry standards and specifications, such as ISO, ANSI, or sector-specific guidelines, to ensure that designs meet regulatory and quality requirements.
• Quality by Design (QbD): A systematic approach that focuses on understanding and controlling variability in the design process to enhance product quality. QbD is widely used in industries like pharmaceuticals and automotive.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Conducting risk assessments (e.g., Failure Modes and Effects Analysis - FMEA) during the design phase to identify potential failure points and implement mitigation strategies.
• Prototyping and Testing: Developing prototypes and conducting rigorous testing to validate that designs meet quality standards before full-scale production. This can include stress testing, performance testing, and compliance testing.
• Design Reviews and Validation: Regular design reviews involving cross-functional teams to ensure that designs are on track to meet quality objectives and to catch any potential issues early.

The integration of design and engineering with quality management ensures that quality is not just inspected at the end but is built into the product from the beginning. This approach helps reduce costs associated with rework, defects, and non-compliance, and improves overall customer satisfaction by delivering high-quality products.

Application Areas

Design and Engineering in quality management is critical across various industries, including:

• Automotive: Ensuring vehicle designs meet safety, performance, and environmental standards, using quality management techniques like Six Sigma and robust design.
• Aerospace: Applying strict quality controls in design and engineering to meet stringent safety, performance, and regulatory requirements.
• Consumer Electronics: Integrating quality into the design and engineering of devices to enhance reliability, functionality, and user experience.
• Construction: Ensuring that building designs comply with safety standards, structural integrity, and environmental regulations.
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices: Using design controls and QbD approaches to ensure that products meet safety, efficacy, and regulatory standards.

Well-Known Examples

• Tesla: Known for integrating high standards of design and engineering in its electric vehicles, focusing on innovation, safety, and performance while maintaining rigorous quality controls.
• Boeing: Implements robust design and engineering processes, including extensive testing and validation, to ensure that its aircraft meet stringent safety and quality standards.
• Apple: Emphasises design and engineering excellence, combining aesthetics with functionality and rigorous quality checks to deliver high-quality consumer electronics.

Treatment and Risks

To manage design and engineering effectively in the quality management context, organisations should implement:

• Cross-Functional Teams: Engaging teams from different functions (e.g., design, engineering, quality, and manufacturing) to collaborate and ensure that quality is integrated throughout the design process.
• Use of Design Software and Tools: Leveraging advanced design software (such as CAD, CAE, and PLM systems) to model, simulate, and optimise designs before production.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and updating design and engineering practices based on feedback, lessons learned, and new quality standards.
• Documentation and Traceability: Maintaining detailed documentation of design specifications, changes, and validations to ensure traceability and compliance with quality standards.

Risks associated with poor design and engineering include increased product defects, safety hazards, regulatory non-compliance, and costly redesigns or recalls. Addressing quality issues early in the design phase is far more cost-effective than correcting them after production has begun. Effective quality management in design and engineering minimises these risks by building quality into the product from the ground up.

Similar Terms

• Design for Excellence (DfX): A broader approach that includes designing for various aspects of product success, such as manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Product Development: The overall process of bringing a new product to market, of which design and engineering are critical components, with a focus on quality.
• Engineering Change Management: Managing changes in design and engineering processes to maintain quality and compliance throughout product development.

Summary

Design and Engineering in the quality management context involve integrating quality considerations into the planning, development, and creation of products. By focusing on quality from the early stages, organisations can ensure that products meet high standards of safety, performance, and compliance, reducing the likelihood of defects and enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

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