The methodology that ensures product features are designed to facilitate assembly and reduce costs is Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA). This approach integrates design and manufacturing processes by focusing on simplifying product structures and minimizing the number of parts. By doing so, DFMA helps to streamline assembly processes and reduce production costs.
For example, using fewer components or designing parts that can easily fit together can significantly decrease assembly time and labor, ultimately leading to lower overall costs. The emphasis on manufacturability and assembly in DFMA is crucial for efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the production of goods.
Alternatives like Design for Production and Performance (DPP) and Design Quality Framework (DQF) may address other important aspects of the product development process, such as optimizing production methods or ensuring product quality, but they do not specifically focus on the ease of assembly and cost reduction in the same targeted manner as DFMA. Similarly, Design for End-User (DFEU) primarily centers on user experience and needs, rather than the manufacturing and assembly processes.