Concept generation and selection are crucial steps in the design process. They involve brainstorming ideas, using systematic techniques like morphological analysis, and evaluating options with decision matrices. These methods help engineers create innovative solutions to design challenges.

Visualizing concepts through sketches and functional decomposition aids in communicating ideas. By generating a wide range of concepts and carefully selecting the best ones, designers can develop products that meet user needs and technical requirements effectively.

Idea Generation Techniques

Collaborative Ideation Methods

• Brainstorming involves a group of people working together to generate a large number of ideas in a short period of time
  • Encourages open and free thinking without judgment or criticism
  • Builds upon each other's ideas to create novel solutions (piggybacking)
  • Often facilitated by a moderator to keep the session focused and productive
• Mind mapping is a visual tool for organizing and connecting ideas around a central theme or problem
  • Starts with a main concept in the center and branches out into related sub-topics and ideas
  • Helps to identify relationships between ideas and explore different aspects of a problem
  • Can be done individually or as a group activity to stimulate creative thinking

Systematic Ideation Techniques

• Morphological analysis is a structured method for generating new ideas by combining different attributes or features
  • Breaks down a problem into its key parameters or characteristics
  • Creates a matrix with possible variations or solutions for each parameter
  • Generates new concepts by combining different variations from each parameter
  • Helps to explore a wide range of potential solutions in a systematic way
• TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a methodology based on the study of patterns in successful inventions and problem-solving strategies
  • Identifies common contradictions or conflicts in a problem and provides principles for resolving them
  • Uses a knowledge base of inventive principles, patterns, and solutions to guide the ideation process
  • Helps to overcome mental inertia and find innovative solutions by drawing from proven problem-solving strategies

Concept Evaluation and Selection

Decision-Making Tools

• Decision matrices are a tool for evaluating and comparing different concepts based on a set of criteria
  • Establishes a list of criteria or requirements that the concepts must meet
  • Assigns weights to each criterion based on their relative importance
  • Scores each concept against each criterion using a numerical scale
  • Calculates a weighted sum for each concept to determine the highest-ranking options
  • Helps to make objective and data-driven decisions when selecting the best concepts to pursue
• The Pugh method is a variation of the decision matrix that compares concepts against a baseline or reference design
  • Identifies a baseline concept or existing solution as a reference point
  • Compares each new concept against the baseline for each criterion using (+) for better, (-) for worse, or (S) for same
  • Helps to identify which concepts offer improvements over the existing solution and in which areas

Concept Validation

• Feasibility studies are conducted to assess the viability and practicality of a concept before investing significant resources
  • Analyzes the technical feasibility to determine if the concept can be developed and manufactured with available technology and resources
  • Assesses the economic feasibility to estimate the costs, benefits, and potential return on investment
  • Considers the market feasibility to evaluate the potential demand, competition, and customer acceptance
  • Helps to identify and mitigate risks early in the design process and make informed decisions on which concepts to pursue

Concept Visualization

Visual Communication Techniques

• Concept sketching is a quick and informal way to visualize and communicate ideas during the early stages of design
  • Uses simple hand-drawn sketches to convey the basic form, function, and key features of a concept
  • Helps to explore and refine ideas rapidly without investing too much time or resources
  • Facilitates communication and collaboration among team members and stakeholders
  • Can be enhanced with annotations, arrows, and labels to clarify the intended functionality and user interaction
• Functional decomposition is a process of breaking down a complex system or concept into its constituent functions and sub-functions
  • Identifies the primary functions that the concept must perform to meet the design requirements
  • Breaks down each primary function into smaller, more specific sub-functions
  • Creates a hierarchical diagram or tree structure to visualize the relationships between functions and sub-functions
  • Helps to understand the functional architecture of a concept and identify areas for innovation or improvement