Simplexity Product Development Blog

FIVE TIPS FOR MECHATRONIC SYSTEM INTEGRATION

May 9, 2016 | by Doug Harriman

In part two of my three-part mechatronics discussion I provided tips for the design of high volume mechatronic systems. In this final entry of the series, I’ll discuss five additional tips… Read More

THREE TIPS FOR DESIGNING HIGH VOLUME MECHATRONIC PRODUCTS

April 28, 2016 | by Doug Harriman

As I discussed in part one of my three-part mechatronics discussion, there are many, many types of mechatronics systems in the world. In industry, the largest market segment that would clearly identify… Read More

WHAT IS MECHATRONICS?

April 18, 2016 | by Doug Harriman

The word “mechatronics” was first coined in Japan in the late 1960’s to refer to the synergistic blend of mechanics and electronics. The word has evolved to describe products and… Read More

IF I COULD ONLY DO 3 THINGS TO SIMPLIFY A DESIGN, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE?

April 6, 2016 | by Dorota Shortell

People are often curious about what our secret sauce is for achieving such simple designs for complex products. While I could get into all the details — things like hiring… Read More

FIVE TIPS FOR MECHATRONIC SYSTEM INTEGRATION

THREE TIPS FOR DESIGNING HIGH VOLUME MECHATRONIC PRODUCTS

WHAT IS MECHATRONICS?

IF I COULD ONLY DO 3 THINGS TO SIMPLIFY A DESIGN, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE?

Offices:

Connect:

Offices:

Connect:

Phase 3: Design Verification And Design Transfer

Design & Engineering

<img class="wp-image-1805 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_software_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Software: Design Complete

<img class=" wp-image-1804 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_hardware_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Hardware: Pre-production units for design verification

Test: Design verification test

NPI

<img class="wp-image-1811 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/siplexity_manufacturing_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />MFG. Readiness: CM schedule and budget, Unit build tracking

Quality: Quality metrics verification process, Process validation support

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Phase 2C: Detailed Design Prototype 2

Design & Engineering

<img class="wp-image-1805 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_software_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Software: Full feature implementation

<img class=" wp-image-1804 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_hardware_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Hardware: Prototype 2 units with production-representative materials and processes

Test: Engineering confidence test, integration test

NPI

MFG. Readiness: CM onboarding Design transfer prep

<img class=" wp-image-1803 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_quality_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Quality: Build Quality Plan

2C. Prototype 2 Design, Build And Test

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Phase 2B: Detailed Design

Design & Engineering

<img class="wp-image-1805 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_software_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Software: Core functionality implementation

<img class=" wp-image-1804 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_hardware_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Hardware: Prototype 1 units with rapid prototyped components

Test: Engineering confidence test, unit test

NPI

<img class=" wp-image-1811 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/siplexity_manufacturing_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />

MFG: Readiness: Project build plan CM selection

<img class=" wp-image-1803 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_quality_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" /> Quality: Critical manufacturing process identification

2B. Prototype 1 Design, Build And Test

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Phase 1: Requirements & Planing

Design & Engineering

Project Plan Requirements

ID/UX Concepts

Risk Analysis

Manufacturing Strategy Identification

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Production

Design & Engineering

Manufacturing design guidance and ongoing engineering support

Ongoing quality metrics monitoring & optimization

Typical deliverables:

Phase 2: Detailed Design

Design & Engineering

<img class="wp-image-1805 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_software_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Software: Architecture design: block, sequence and state diagrams

<img class=" wp-image-1804 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_hardware_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Hardware: Major Component definition & Proof of Concept subsystems build

Test: Characterization and qualification of high risk subsystems & components

NPI

<img class=" wp-image-1803 alignleft" src="https://www.simplexitypd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/simplexity_quality_icon-150x150.png" alt="" width="40" height="40" />Quality: Design for Manufacturing tradeoffs evaluation

2A. Architecture and Technology Feasability

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Phase 0: Exploration

Exploration

Research

Concept Work

Architecture explorations

Feasibility study

Typical deliverables:

Gate definition:

Software: Design Complete

Hardware: Pre-production units for design verification

MFG. Readiness: CM schedule and budget, Unit build tracking

Software: Full feature implementation

Hardware: Prototype 2 units with production-representative materials and processes

Quality: Build Quality Plan

Software: Core functionality implementation

Hardware: Prototype 1 units with rapid prototyped components

Quality: Critical manufacturing process identification

Software: Architecture design: block, sequence and state diagrams

Hardware: Major Component definition & Proof of Concept subsystems build

Quality: Design for Manufacturing tradeoffs evaluation