Simultaneous engineering

Simultaneous engineering - (SE) regular approach to the integrated concurrent product design and their related processes, including support and manufacturing. It appears to be synonymous with Integrated Product Development (IPD) and Concurrent Engineering (CE) .

The main objective of simultaneous engineering is to increase design efficiency and also to improve the quality of the process design .

Simultaneous engineering is directly related to Design for Manufacturing (DFM) .

Main role of SE

Simultaneous engineering plays a major role in engineering/ design. Starting with the expected function of the products, engineers and designers must visualize all of the different scenarios that the product could be utilized .

The benefits of simultaneous engineering include increased product quality, reduce time-to-market and lower product costs .

Simultaneous engineering allows the following benefits to be achieved :

• Reduction of cost in the development of new products
• Better quality of new products as per customer needs
• Reduction of time for the development of new products

Through SE, one can make the product concept changes in the initial development process steps.

SE the same as CE

The difference between simultaneous and concurrent engineering is more or less important. Due to their relationship and the similarity between methods, CE and SE will be known under one term, which is Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering (CSE) .

Simultaneous engineering (known as concurrent engineering) offers powerful and effective methodology for realizing the most satisfying product designs possible from an integrated and global viewpoint .

Examples of Simultaneous engineering

• Automotive Industry: In the automotive industry, simultaneous engineering is used to develop new vehicles. For example, engineers, designers, and suppliers work together to create a new car. This includes designing the body, chassis, engine, electrical systems, and other components. All of these elements must be integrated into a single product that meets the customer’s needs.
• Aerospace Industry: In the aerospace industry, simultaneous engineering is used to develop new aircraft. For example, engineers, designers, and suppliers work together to create a new plane. This includes designing the airframe, engines, avionics, electrical systems, and other components. All of these elements must be integrated into a single product that meets the customer’s needs.
• Consumer Products: In the consumer products industry, simultaneous engineering is used to develop new products. For example, engineers, designers, and suppliers work together to create a new product. This includes designing the form, function, materials, and other components. All of these elements must be integrated into a single product that meets the customer’s needs.

Advantages of Simultaneous engineering

Simultaneous engineering (SE) is an approach to the integrated concurrent product design and their related processes, including support and manufacturing. It is an effective way to design and develop products, as it has several advantages, including:

• Reduced time-to-market - SE allows different teams to work in parallel on different aspects of the product, resulting in faster development and launch.
• Improved product quality - SE ensures that all the aspects of the design are considered, allowing for more innovative solutions that result in higher quality products.
• Reduced costs - SE requires less resources and fewer iterations, resulting in lower development costs.
• Increased customer satisfaction - SE allows for early customer feedback, ensuring that the product meets customer expectations and needs.

Limitations of Simultaneous engineering

Simultaneous engineering (SE) is a regular approach to integrated concurrent product design and their related processes. Though SE has a number of advantages, there are several limitations associated with it, including:

• Complexity: SE is a complex process as it involves the integration of multiple teams and departments simultaneously to achieve the desired results. As a result, this process is often time-consuming and costly.
• Communication: Due to the complexity of SE, there is often a lack of effective communication between the different teams and departments involved, resulting in misunderstandings and miscommunications.
• Resources: SE requires a significant amount of resources, including personnel, equipment and materials, which can be costly.
• Risk: SE is a high-risk process since it involves the integration of multiple teams and departments, and any errors or miscommunications can have costly consequences.

Other approaches related to Simultaneous engineering

Simultaneous engineering is a regular approach to the integrated concurrent product design and their related processes, including support and manufacturing. Other approaches related to SE include:

• Concurrent Design: This is a design strategy that focuses on developing a product or system by working on all aspects of the design in parallel. It emphasizes the integration of all design elements and the need for tight coordination between teams.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): This approach looks at the design of a product from a manufacturing perspective. It involves considering the processes, tools, and materials used to create the product during the design phase in order to maximize productivity and minimize costs.
• Design for Assembly (DFA): This approach focuses on the assembly process of a product. It involves considering the product design from an assembly perspective in order to make the assembly process as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

In summary, other approaches related to Simultaneous engineering include Concurrent Design, Design for Manufacturability, and Design for Assembly. These approaches focus on different aspects of product design and development in order to maximize productivity and minimize costs.

Footnotes

Simultaneous engineering — recommended articles

Product modification — R&D project — Lean management — Business process reengineering — Innovation process — Fast tracking — Lean product development — Innovation models — Lean software development

References

• Bullinger H.J., Warschat J. (2012)., Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering Systems: The Way to Successful Product Development, Springer Science & Business Media
• Dhillon B.S (1998)., Advanced Design Concepts for Engineers, CRC Press
• Loureiro G., Curran R. (2007)., Complex Systems Concurrent Engineering: Collaboration, Technology Innovation and Sustainability, Springer Science & Business Media
• Ribbens J. (2000)., Simultaneous Engineering for New Product Development: Manufacturing Applications, John Wiley & Sons
• Roy U., Usher J., Parsaei H.R. (1999)., Simultaneous Engineering: Methodologies and Applications, CRC Press
• Weck M., Eversheim W., König W.(2013)., Production Engineering: The Competitive Edge, Elsevier
• Wilson R., Hill A.V., Glazer H. (2013)., Tools and Tactics for Operations Managers (Collection), FT Press
• Zairi M. (1994)., Measuring Performance for Business Results, Springer Science & Business Media

Author: Klaudia Szydłowska