Design for Manufacturing
What are the critical factors for successful design for manufacturing?
Design for manufacturing plays an important role during the designing phase of the product, this is when essential production-related aspects of the product are defined. However, manufacturing aspects must also be considered in the conception phase.
The basic requirement for the implementation of design for manufacturing methods is the exact knowledge of the applicable manufacturing processes. Not only the available machinery should be considered, but also the possibility of outsourcing or procuring additional equipment. A critical factor for a successfully implemented design for manufacturing strategy is also inclusion and support of other departments, such as standards department, work preparation, costing, purchasing and the respective production site, in the earliest possible design phase.

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Try design for manufacturing capabilities in Solid Edge with our free trial test version and find out how our CAD software ensures accurate and efficient manufacturing processes.
Design for manufacturing in focus
3D Printing: Quick tips for going from CAD design to printed object
Download this eBook to learn design tricks for 3D printing, post-design steps and how your traditional approach to design and manufacture needs to change for this medium.

DiaCom costumer success story
When the industrial diaphragm maker decided to move from 2D to 3D CAD, they realized that it would be necessary to take a look at the manufacturing process as well. Read how DiaCom achieved smooth integration of CAD and CAM functionalities in one single system.
Solid Edge 2019: State-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities
Our CAM solution is tightly integrated into the CAD environment, which makes it easy to send single files or a whole manufacturing assembly. As PMIs still maintain associations to the original assembly also late design changes are no problem.
Four success criteria for production-oriented design
PLANNING
Consult with manufacturing experts on your design. Lowering manufacturing costs is never easier than at the design stage.
MATERIALS
Use manufacturing-compliant materials if possible, which determines manufacturing processes and means, materials management and quality control.
PROCESSES
Know the manufacture process to reduce costs. For example, 3D printing may enable one monolithic part design instead of manufacturing multiple components.
STANDARDS
Use standard parts or components. This will reduce the cost of new designs, while improving inventory management and time-to-market.
Of course there are many things to consider when talking about an optimal design for manufacturing process. Not only your software tools have to be excellent allowing you to design and manufacture as flexible, effective and innovative as possible. In addition, you should also take a look at the manufacturing steps. Avoid plenty of cost intensive machine changes and rather try to carry out as many processing steps as possible in one set-up.
Customer Success Story
Optimizing CAD/CAM Process
The combination of design and manufacturing capabilities in a single solution has provided a seamless transfer of tool design communication between the design group and the shopfloor.
Mike Grywalski, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, DiaCom Corporation

Solid Edge
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Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools that address all aspects of the product development process – 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, design management and more. Solid Edge combines the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design – made possible with synchronous technology.