DFM/DFA | Design for Manufacturing / Assembly | Quality-One (2024)

How to Perform Design for Manufacturing / Assembly (DFM/DFA)

Many companies today are integrating the DFM and DFA practices through design and manufacturing teamwork. The Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) techniques are two different classifications. DFM techniques are focused on individual parts and components with a goal of reducing or eliminating expensive, complex or unnecessary features which would make them difficult to manufacture. DFA techniques focus on reduction and standardization of parts, sub-assemblies and assemblies. The goal is reduce the assembly time and cost. But if you think about it, they must be integrated to prevent one from causing negative effects on the other. The designer may seek to combine parts to reduce assembly steps, quantity of parts and hardware. If the resulting parts are difficult or expensive to manufacture then you have gained nothing. We must work together to accomplish both goals. The principle goals for simultaneous DFM/A are detailed below.

Reduce Quantity of Component Parts and Simplify Part Design

The designer should review the assembly design part by part and determine if any part can be eliminated or combined with another part. The designer should determine the theoretical minimum quantity of parts required for the assembly. One method for determining minimum part quantities is to first list out all the components in your assembly, including hardware. Then ask the following questions:

• Can the part be manufactured using the same material as other parts?
• How does the part in question move in relation to other moving parts?
• Can the parts be combined without need for any special process or tooling?
• If combined with another part how does that impact ease of possible disassembly?
• If combined with other parts how would it impact ease of manufacture?

Through reduction of component part quantities you also reduce the amount of hardware and the number of assembly steps required. The likelihood of assembly errors are subsequently reduced in relation to the reduction in assembly steps.

Design Parts for Ease of Fabrication

The designer should consider the method of fabrication that may be used for producing the parts, the required material specifications and required production volumes. Some particular guidelines to review are as follows:

• Specify materials that are commonly used and compatible with existing production processes that will minimize processing time and will meet all functional requirements
• Review the part and eliminate unnecessary features that could result in additional process steps, extra effort and complex or expensive tooling
• Design reviews with members of process engineering, quality control and the fabrication team are beneficial when possible. In most cases the meetings result in a few changes to the design that increase utilization of existing tools or improve machine utilization, preventing the need for capital expenses for special tools. In addition, the meetings improve knowledge transfer of design intent to all levels of the organization.

Design Within Known Process Capabilities and Avoid Tight Tolerances

The designer should become familiar with the process capabilities of any equipment required for the manufacture of the part. In addition, review current process controls to assure that any Special Characteristics (KCCs or KPCs) can be monitored. Avoid tight tolerances beyond the proven capability of the manufacturing processes. Determine if improved process capabilities are required early in the design or program schedule to allow time for any process improvement activities and the establishment of proper process controls. In addition, the designer should evaluate any interactions between component parts to avoid tolerance “stack-up” issues. Parts should be dimensioned in the center of the tolerance range to allow for the greatest variance and still remain a functional conforming part. In addition, avoid one sided tolerances and use surface finish callouts only when required, as that may result in unneeded additional part cost. Chamfered or radius corners should both be allowed if it will not change the function of the part. This will permit production control to route the part to different machines based upon demand.

Utilize Common Parts and Materials

Whenever possible the design should incorporate common parts and materials, including parts already in use in other similar products or assemblies. Common parts and materials help minimize inventory levels and will result in lower cost and higher quality. One of the most successful new product introductions Quality-One has been a part of incorporated 50% carry over / common parts from a similar product. The new content of the design was greatly reduced therefore the design risk was reduced. In addition, the learning curve of the assembly team members was reduced.

Mistake Proof Product Design and Assembly (Poka Yoke)

Designers should look for ways to mistake proof their designs, making the proper assembly of mating parts instantly recognizable and impossible to assemble incorrectly. By the addition of tabs and slots, asymmetrical holes and interference features the parts can be made difficult or impossible to assemble in reverse or oriented improperly. The designer should also avoid the need for any special adjustments or alignments in the assembly process. With enough thought put into the design of an assembly many of the parts can be made mistake proof. The designer should also consider how the part or assembly could be inspected for quality purposes. For some parts, conformance to design requirements may be verified with basic go / no-go tools. In other cases the parts may need to be measured and the designer should indicate any key or critical to quality dimensions or features.

Handling Requirements and Part Orientation

The design engineer should consider how the parts are going to be handled and oriented during the manufacturing and assembly processes. If this is not done, the impact could range from non-value added motion and part movement to possible operator safety issues or requirements for special fixtures or lifting devices. There are several basic principles that can be applied to improve parts handling and orientation. A few examples can be found below:

• Drawings should consistently indicate the proper origination when fed into a process. An example would be how parts are oriented into a brake press for either bend up or bend down operations.
• The designer should avoid use of parts that can easily become tangled in the container or that are difficult to pick up and handle. This slows production and can increase waste due to damaged, dropped or lost parts.
• When possible design parts that are symmetrical along both axis. This allows for ease of fabrication and correct assembly.
• Parts should be designed so that they may be easily grasped, oriented and placed in an assembly or weld fixture. Examples would be parts with flat, parallel surfaces that are easily picked-up and assembled by the operator. Another instance to think about could be if the part is picked up by a suction or magnetic gripping device when used in a “pick and place robot” application.
• Always avoid parts with sharp edges, burrs or points. Use radii and chamfers when possible to reduce chance of operator injury.
• Avoid heavy or oversized parts that will require lifting devices or may increase worker fatigue and risk of injury. Always consider assembler and operator safety in all designs.
• When designing a workstation it is good practice to plan for minimum worker travel time. Minimize the distance to access and move a part or assembly. A good rule of thumb is that most components should be within two steps from the point of assembly and common hardware and tools within easy reach.

Design for Ease of Assembly

There are many methods to design for ease of assembly. When designing for assembly, remember the simpler the design the easier it is to assemble. The designer should consider where the assembly is going to be performed and the tools or equipment that will be available. For example, if the product is sold as a kit and assembled in the field by the customer, it is different than if it will be assembled on an assembly line or in a work cell. There are many guidelines for ease of assembly. The following list contains some examples:

• Incorporate simple patterns of movement in your assembly process and minimize steps. If that is not possible, consider breaking it down into logical sub-assemblies.
• Avoid multiple set-ups or re-orientation during the assembly process. This creates wasted movement and time.
• Parts should incorporate lead-in features and chamfers. This allows for easier insertion of pins or bolts.
• Design the product so it may be assembled from the bottom up using gravity to your advantage.
• Always allow for adequate tool clearance and assure the operator can see what they are assembling, with no hidden interfaces or attachment points.
• Limit the variety of hardware sizes and configurations in an assembly. This will help prevent incorrect hardware being used or used in the wrong location.
  • Example: One design recently observed utilized one size and type of self-tapping screw for every sub-assembly and the parent assembly. Only one type of hardware was required in the production cell.

Reduce / Eliminate Flexible Parts and Interconnections

The designer must consider the usage and environment in which the product will operate. Many product failures are due to the component parts not being robust to the application. Let’s look at one example. There was a display system that operated a piece of equipment used outdoors which has inherent vibration during operation and experiences heavy usage. The displays were failing due to a fragile ribbon cable that became brittle over time and would break. It was also found that the cable connectors did not lock into place and would sometimes vibrate out, breaking the connection. The product was redesigned to include a locking connector attached to a temperature resistant cable robust to the operating environment. Here are a few ideas to think about:

• Design for use of robust connectors and connection points
• Avoid flimsy flexible cables, tubing and gaskets when possible
• Minimize the use of wire harnesses – instead design boards that stack and /or plug directly to one another when possible
• Utilize direct drive instead of pulleys and belts
• When harnesses are used, error proof the connectors by using unique connectors that cannot be attached in the wrong orientation or to the incorrect mating connection

Incorporate Easy and Efficient Fastening Methods

Threaded bolts, washers and nuts are time consuming to assemble. If they are required, consider weld nuts or nuts that are captured in the part. The designer must look at alternative methods of attachment.

• Minimize the variety of hardware required for assembly
• Consider the use of connections integrated into the parts such as snap fit or tab and slot
• Evaluate other bonding techniques with adhesives
• Match fastening techniques to materials and product functional requirements
• Consider ease of disassembly for service and repairs

Modular Product Design

Modular design is becoming more prevalent in many industries. It has various advantages for the manufacturer, the dealer and the customers. Some of the advantages to modular design are listed below:

• Modules help minimize cost by reducing the number of different parts within a family of products
• Modules may result in shorter learning curves when new employees require training on the assembly of the products
• In some cases it allows the manufacturer to balance production throughout the year based on projected seasonal sales
• In addition, the dealer can stock most sold items for fast delivery to customer. Customized combinations of the modules can be delivered to the site and installed quickly.
• Modules allow for greater outsourcing of parts and assembly modules, freeing-up manufacturing capacity and increasing the number of products delivered on time
• Modules provide for easy and quick installation of products at the site saving labor and time
• Modules improve servicing and maintenance of products as well as reduces the number of service parts that need to be stocked at the dealer
• Modular assemblies can also be improved with minimal effect on the rest of the product

Design for Automation

There are many obvious advantages to designing products or parts for automation. A few of them are listed below:

• Increased process throughput or efficiency.
• Improved quality or more predictable process results.
• Consistency in the process output.
• Reduced operator labor costs and indirect labor costs

Something else to consider is the fact that automated production can require less flexibility in design than manual production. The product must be designed so that it can be handled with automated equipment like gripping or magnetic lifting and placement equipment. Avoid any requirements for gripper / tool change. You must also use self-locating parts, simple parts-presentation devices and avoid the need for clamping or securing parts during assembly or processing.

Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly are both important and often interwoven and referred to simply as DFM/A. The primary goal is to design a product and process to be as efficient as possible. Whether a product is assembled by machines or by operators, the designer and the mechanical engineer should work together to ensure that labor cost, overhead and materials are reduced as much as possible. We should always strive to produce a quality product the first time and every time and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly can help! When DFM/A is applied, your company can run at higher profit margins, with higher quality and at a greater level of efficiency.