Total quality in the design process

The advantages to be gained from the use of technology in the quest for quality improvement are considered. The scope includes not only the traditional manufacturing and automation efforts, but also the large opportunity in the design functions. Considered gains in manufacturing have been achieved through the judicious use of automation, computer-integrated-manufacturing, and statistical process control. In the quest for continuous quality improvement, the next major step function improvement will come from changes in the design methodology. The ways in which artificial intelligence, design of experiments, and engineering workstations can be used to truly change design methodology, and not just automate the present methods, are studied