Right from the invention of wheel, all the things that humans have created has a reason behind it. More or less all the man-made objects that we see around us have one thing in common -engineering design component. Taking simple example of a spoon, where the aesthetics may vary but the engineering design constituent in a spoon is what makes it useful to serve or eat food.
While 2017 was a year which introduced various technological advancements, the year 2018 is witnessing rapid developments where engineers are integrating IT more and more tightly into the design of products. Today, consumer durable manufacturers are selling appliances-as-a-service engineered with built-in IT. This enables the business world to connect with a smart platform for predicting, preventing, scheduling maintenance and generating profitable outcomes. Also, the engineering services outsourcing (ESO) industry is rising with the ESO providers holding the reins of integration of engineering and IT. With the evolution of this industry the engineering design services are becoming the need of the hour.
A Tech-enabled Changing Face
Today, people are no longer satisfied with a functional product, they want it to be appealing. As such, the scenario is changing with the engineering design services focusing on usability coupled with attractive packaging. As CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) tools are getting complex and powerful, organizations are exploiting their potential to offer prominent and cost-effective engineering design services. Acknowledging the need of innovative services they are playing a key role in transforming the engineering world.
Realizing the full potential of the growth opportunities, the engineering design service providers are changing the delivery model. They are focusing on the fact that engineering products must address the challenges of IT-enabled engineering by broadening their scope and enhancing their investments in new processes and technology. Additionally, the industry players are leveraging higher level of experience and exposure for a better tech-enabled future.
Disrupting the Engineering Services Delivery
Current trends in the sensor technology, wireless communications, cloud computing, and big-data capabilities are enabling the IoT to rapidly transform the engineering services delivery landscape. IT and embedded electronics are boosting the engineering space with distinctive delivery approach which can help the organizations to craft out services that can revolutionize the traditional practices.
Further, engineers and designers are creating products as well as artifacts by capturing their own usage data and establishing a continuous feedback loop. Profusion of data and devices are creating intelligent engineering applications to customize and monitor the entire product experience. This includes ideas like the connected car, real-time and continuous healthcare, and remote monitoring of smart homes.
The Prominent Steps to be Taken
Deciding to go ahead with the product is the first and approaching a professional engineering design services provider is the next step in order to roll out a best-in-class product or artifact. Here are the steps an engineering design services provider undertakes to pass on a healthy design to the environment.
Identification of the Design Needs
This involves a listing of the product function, requirements of the clientele, and prospects about the product features.
Gathering Information about the Product
This step is all about research. It also involves the identification of the loads, boundaries, conditions as well as forces that will be applied on the product. On the other hand, significant measures are taken in order to outsource an enhanced and appealing product.
Innovation is the Key
Engineering is a mixture of creativity and science. Also, there can be more than one solution to develop a distinctive product. This step deals with discussion about the innovation ensuring that the costs and time of development are kept to the minimum. This novel approach would help companies develop robust product designs.
Most Feasible Solution
It involves the best possible solution that quenches the requirements of the product & consumer and models a prototype using CAD or CAE software.
Implementing and Testing
The dawn of 3D Printers has made prototyping flexible and easy. Most of the leading companies use a 3D printer to create a 3D object followed by its testing that provides engineering design services. This helps validate the product functioning, fit, form and ergonomics leading to enhanced product design performance.
The following steps are rehearsed till a groundbreaking engineering design solution is being attained. Design engineering is the driving force behind each product that is being developed for the customers. Recognizing that proper design engineering is the cornerstone for creating a successful product – be it a household entity or a multifaceted architectural marvel, customers are going for the companies that have hands-on experience in providing these services. Embracing the opportunities related to design engineering, companies can offer value-added services that are customized to the customer’s needs.
The Next Big Thing
Since the industrial internet is becoming more secure, industrial automation, robotics and 3D printing are enabling a new energy which will create a more pronounced change in the near future. Design-to-print concepts of additive and 3D manufacturing would positively impact the product maintenance and repair necessities. In this way, the business model along with the design engineering will shift towards greater sharing of risk and reward between the clientele and the service provider.
