When it comes to over-engineering products, intricate design and multiple redundant parts can make things incredibly hard for production and assembly workers. While a computer may tell you that a part can be fabricated, it may not be so simple in practice, and complications can affect an entire company. Buying extra material for scrapped products and angry customers due to late deliveries are just two examples.
Simplifying a design can sometimes be beneficial to your entire company.
Less is More
Engineering parts to very high tolerances may seem like the best way to keep errors away, but not all manufacturers can work at high tolerances. A company may employ workers not used to working with such tight design, or their processes may not be able to handle the tolerances, and errors can creep into production.
By simplifying design, engineers leave space for manufacturers to figure out how to make the specification work with the equipment and people they have. By leaving more room for error, engineers can often reduce the potential for errors. Doing this may keep them from taking the blame for a complex design that is difficult to manufacture.
Why is Simplification Good for You?
There are three reasons that simplifying product design is good:
- Reduced Cost: Simplified designs take less material and labor to create. There can also be less scrap, since fewer parts will be rejected due to errors.
- Saved Time: Paying to have redundant parts manufactured 2 or 3 times is not cost-efficient. Simple parts require fewer manufacturing methods and suffer less delay time due to error correction.
- Better Reputation: Your company will gain a better reputation if your products work as advertised. Delays and mistakes can impact you by costing you current or future customers.
PMI Can Help
Precision Metal Industries can help your company with its fabrication needs. We have a team of highly-trained experts to help get your designs created and shipped on-time and in working order.
Download our full eBook, Simplifying an Over-Engineered Design, to see all the ways that simplifying an over-designed product can help your company. Then contact PMI to see how we can help you with your design and fabrication needs.