Simplification-the first essential step in effective product and process design

Many manufacturing processes result in complex control philosophies and sophisticated computer techniques to ensure that they work properly. In many cases however complex control solutions are proposed in order to address problems with processes which are unnecessarily complex. The author focuses on the benefits which may be achieved through the simultaneous design of products, their processes and control systems. The approach leads to simplicity of design rather than complexity. Effective design for manufacture can improve profitability through reduced part counts, the elimination of unnecessary variants and the avoidance of processes that are a waste of money