Right By Design: A Novel Approach to Failure Mode Avoidance

Product design is becoming increasingly complex, leading to poor product launches and high after-sales warranties. This book presents an approach to product design based on Failure Mode Avoidance that utilises a series of interrelated engineering tools and interpersonal skills to discover failure modes early in the design process. It interweaves technical skills, team skills, and team leadership in a way that reflects their real-life interrelationship and promotes constructivist learning through the reader empathising with the characters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 388 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Product design is facing significant challenges as the complexity of products increases, particularly with the integration of autonomous control and the pursuit of zero emissions. Companies are struggling with poor product launches, resulting in significant numbers of recall campaigns and high after-sales warranties. Identifying and addressing potential product failures during the design phase is crucial to prevent costly and time-consuming issues later on.

Failure modes that are discovered after the design has matured can be difficult and expensive to fix, often affecting multiple parts of the product. Modifying one component can lead to unintended consequences and create new problems. Therefore, it is essential to identify failure modes early in the design process, when they are easier and less costly to address.

This book presents an approach to product design based on Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA). FMA utilizes a series of interrelated engineering tools and interpersonal skills to discover failure modes early in the design process. These tools can be applied across various engineering disciplines, ensuring a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach.

While engineering is typically a team activity, there is often a lack of attention paid to the team process after the team membership has been established. Membership is often based solely on technical expertise, neglecting the importance of teamwork and collaboration. An effective engineering team requires not only technical skills but also effective teamwork, communication, and leadership.

Good leadership is essential for managing change and encouraging individual team members to reach their full potential. This book interweaves technical skills, team skills, and team leadership in a way that reflects their real-life interrelationships. By adopting FMA and fostering effective teamwork, communication, and leadership, companies can improve the success of their product designs and reduce the risk of costly failures.

Weight: 748g
Dimension: 253 x 179 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032260068