FSE 100 Engineering Design Process Assessment Spring 2016 Ho

Fse 100 Engineering Design Process Assessmentspring 2016honor Code

FSE 100 Engineering Design Process Assessment Spring 2016 Honor Code: Aside from the resources on Gantt charts, complete this assignment alone and without access to other materials. Turn In: Upload a Word or PDF document to Blackboard using the SafeAssign link. Please do NOT include any identifiable information (e.g., your name, your ASU ID, etc.) in the submitted Word or PDF document. Instead, please include your username in the form of the first two letters of your middle name, the first two letters of your mother’s maiden name, and two numbers of the day you were born. Gantt Chart Background: The chart below is a Gantt chart for a proposed design process. Please see accompanying material on a Gantt chart. Briefly, a Gantt shows activities (tasks or events) displayed against time. On the left of the chart is a list of the activities and along the top is a suitable time scale. Each activity is represented by a bar; the position and length of the bar reflects the start date, duration and end date of the activity. Please attempt to understand the purpose and use of a Gantt chart before you proceed with the assignment. Project Prompt: The Engineers Without Borders (EWB) team from ASU has recently completed a small health clinic to serve a rural town in Nicaragua. At this time, the clinic does not contain examination tables, which are necessary as many proper physical examinations and some treatments require that a person lie down. Thus, the goal of this project is to develop and build an examination bed for the EWB-built clinic in Nicaragua. Assignment: Critique the proposed 14-week design process to create an examination bed for the clinic in Nicaragua. This process is displayed in the Gantt chart of Figure 1. Elucidate on the steps in the design process with specific details. Elaborate on strategies appropriate to accomplish the steps in the design process. Identify the pros (advantages, strengths, etc.) and cons (disadvantages, weaknesses, etc.) of the proposed design process. Note that no work on this project was done prior to what is shown in the chart. Note: You are not just reiterating what will be done by the team, but are making judgments about whether their proposed process is good/bad. Be specific.

Paper For Above instruction

The proposed 14-week design process for developing an examination bed for the rural clinic in Nicaragua offers a structured approach to project management; however, a critical evaluation reveals both strengths and weaknesses that could influence the success of the project. This critique will dissect each step in the process, discuss suitable strategies, and highlight the pros and cons of the overall methodology.

Initially, the process likely involves an extensive planning phase, including project definition, requirements gathering, and resource assessment. This foundational step is crucial for setting clear design goals, understanding user needs, and establishing constraints such as budget, available materials, and environmental considerations. Effective strategies here include engaging local healthcare workers for needs assessment and conducting thorough literature reviews to inform ergonomic and safety standards for medical beds. The advantage of a comprehensive planning phase is that it minimizes scope creep and ensures stakeholder alignment. On the downside, excessive planning can lead to delays if not managed efficiently, especially if stakeholder input is delayed or conflicting.

The subsequent stages probably involve conceptual design, where initial ideas are generated, followed by more detailed engineering designs. Here, strategies such as brainstorming sessions, CAD modeling, and prototype development are appropriate. These steps allow for visualization, testing, and iterative refinement of the design. One strength of this approach is that it fosters innovation and identifies potential issues early in the process. Yet, a potential weakness is that over-reliance on digital modeling without physical prototypes might overlook real-world issues such as material fatigue or ease of manufacturing.

Next, the process appears to incorporate prototyping and testing phases, which are essential for validating the design. Strategies here include constructing mock-ups or scale models and conducting functional tests under simulated or actual conditions. These tests can identify ergonomic, durability, and safety concerns that may not be apparent during the design phase. The key advantage is risk mitigation; however, delays can occur if testing reveals significant flaws requiring reevaluation and redesign, prolonging the project timeline.

Manufacturing planning and final assembly are likely subsequent steps, where strategies involve sourcing local materials and developing simple, cost-effective manufacturing processes to suit the context in Nicaragua. An advantage of this approach is cost reduction and local capacity building. Nevertheless, logistical challenges such as supply chain disruptions, quality control, and transportation issues pose significant risks that could delay delivery or compromise quality.

The final step probably involves deployment, training local staff, and maintenance planning. Strategies should include developing clear operational protocols and providing hands-on training sessions to ensure sustainability. A strength of this step is capacity building within the community, fostering a sense of ownership. Conversely, inadequate training or lack of follow-up could lead to improper use or early failure of the examination beds.

Overall, the proposed design process's strengths lie in its systematic structure, inclusive planning, and iterative testing. These elements are essential for developing a functional, durable, and context-appropriate examination bed. However, drawbacks include potential delays from over-planning, insufficient engagement of local stakeholders, and logistical challenges inherent in manufacturing and transportation in a rural setting. To optimize outcomes, emphasizing early stakeholder involvement, flexible timelines, and incorporating risk management strategies are recommended. Additionally, adopting an adaptive project management approach, with continuous feedback loops, could further improve efficiency and project success.

References

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