STEM Project Design
Science Technology Engineering and Math
STEM Service-Learning Summer instituteSacramento State University
August 5-7, 2009
Many Definitions of Design
Design as art Design as problem solving Design activity as applying scientific and
other organized knowledge to practical tasks Design as a social process in which individual
worlds interact and parameters are negotiated
Source: Dr. Robin Adams ENE 696G course notes
Design Process
Few Specifications » » » » Many
Specifications
Most Influential Choices » » » » Least Influential
Choices
Infinite Variety of Designs » » » » One Design
Design is done by many disciplines
Multiple Valid Solutions
Examples:
Cell Phones Computers
STEM Balance
Service-learning is a balance of the learning of design and the service we contribute to the communities through completed designs and support
ServiceTo our partners, meeting needs in the community
LearningBecoming good designers, professionals and active
learners
Complimentary goals that enhance each other
Design Process and Project Mgmt.
Many models and tools Design Process
Mechanical Engineering Ullman’s - 6 steps
Service Learning PARDE Model – key elements
Different Companies use different models They all use some process
Avoid “hobbyist approach” and inefficient project progress
Design needs to combine STEM and Service-Learning
EPICS* Design Process
Six Phases1. Problem Identification2. Specification Development 3. Conceptual Design4. Detailed Design5. Production6. Service/Maintenance7. Redesign or retirement
*EPICS High–Engineering Projects in Community Service-Learning, Purdue University
The EPICS Design Cycle
Specification Development
Detailed Design
Production
ServiceMaintenance
Redesign
Retirement
Problem Identification
ConceptualDesign
Disposal
Problem Identification
Tasks Identify problem Determine project objectives Determine motivation for project Identify outcomes or deliverables Determine duration of the project Identify community partner contact Identify stakeholders
Deliverables Project Charter
Specification Development
Tasks Complete users and beneficiaries analysis Define the customer requirements Evaluate design constraints Develop engineering specifications Compare to benchmark products (prior designs)
Determine design targets Deliverables
Project Specification Document
Conceptual Design
Tasks Complete Functional Decomposition of project Complete Decision Matrix of requirements Define how users will interact with project Analyze/evaluate potential solutions Choose best solution
Deliverables Project Conceptual Design Report
Detailed Design
Tasks Complete top down specification/ bottom-up
implementation (freeze interfaces) Analysis/evaluation of project, sub-modules and/or
components Prototyping/proof-of-concept of project, sub-modules
and/or components Field test prototype/get feedback from users Complete DFMEA* analysis of project Bill of materials Determine what user training is necessary
Deliverables Project Detailed Design Report Prototype version of project
*DFMEA -Design for Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
Production
Tasks Complete production version of the project Complete user manuals/training material Complete delivery review
Deliverables Delivered project Project Delivery Report Delivery checklist User manuals
Service/Maintenance
Tasks Evaluate performance of fielded project Determine what resources are necessary to
support and maintain the project Deliverables
Fielded Project Report
Redesign or Retirement Decisions
The EPICS Design Cycle
Specification Development
Detailed Design
Production
ServiceMaintenance
Redesign
Retirement
Problem Identification
ConceptualDesign Disposal
Iterations in the Design Process
Disposal
Specification Development
Detailed Design
Production
ServiceMaintenance
Redesign
Retirement
Problem Identification
ConceptualDesign
Iterations in the Design Process
Disposal
Specification Development
Detailed Design
Production
ServiceMaintenance
Redesign
Retirement
Problem Identification
ConceptualDesign
Iterations in the Design Process
Disposal
Specification Development
Detailed Design
Production
ServiceMaintenance
Redesign
Retirement
Problem Identification
ConceptualDesign
Seeking and Selecting
Each phase of the design process has divergent (creative) components where ideas are sought and a convergent component where options are selected
Diverge - Seek Possibilities
Converge -Narrow Choices
Problem Identification
Specification Development
Converge -Narrow Choices
Diverge -Seek Possibilities
EPIC Projects and Design
Four Broad Areas Human Services Access and Abilities Environmental Education Outreach
Design Process Often Same Can be STEM rich
Design Tools
Group Activities
Engineering Specifications
Specifications Development
What does your project partner need? Don’t rely on what they want, find out what
they need. Understand the problems and issues you are
addressing Who will use the product? Who will benefit from the product?
Gather Data Talk to project partner and others impacted Research
Specifications Development (cont.)
How will the problem be worked? Criteria for design teams How will teams be integrated? Who will use the product? Transition plans for multiple semesters
Gather input from project partner on specifications Develop a specifications document Share and modify specifications
Customer Requirements
Types of customer requirements Functional performance Human factors Physical Time Cost Standards Test methods Service and maintenance
Customer Requirements
For a cell phone, make a list of ten customer requirements
Or
For an energy audit of a school, make a list of ten customer
requirements
Engineering Specifications
Answer the how question Quantified
Should be able to measure whether you meet it Objective quantities A set of units should be associated
with each specification Forms the basis for your specifications
document
Engineering Requirements
Starting with the customer requirements for a cell phone or energy audit,
make a list of engineering requirements
Defining Requirements
Benchmarks What is available? Make comparisons Why did they use their approach? Patent searches (avoid infringement)
Are we smarter than everyone else? Did we miss something?
Design Targets
Set standards to meet with your design How good is good? Should be a living document
Don’t compromise on goals Refine as the design progresses
Make design trade-offs if needed Communication with project partner Design decisions
Design Tools
Defining the System
Functional Decomposition
Breaking tasks or functions of the system down to the finest level
Create a tree diagram starting at the most general function of your system What is the purpose of your system Action word (verb) and object (noun)
Break this function down into simpler subtasks or sub functions
Continue until you are at the most basic functions or tasks
Consider What, not How
Sample FD – Bike Fender
Protect rider from water and
dirt off wheel
Shield riderSteers wateraway from
rider
Supportsother items
Attach reflectorAttach
splashguard
Create a functional decomposition diagram for a cell phone, energy audit or
mechanical pencil(won’t be complete)
Generating Ideas - Brainstorming
Pick a facilitator Define the problem Small group Explain the process Record ideas in a visible way Everyone’s involved No evaluating Eliminate duplicates Pick three
In the same group –
Brainstorm ways to implement one of the functions on your diagram and select the best
alternative
Decision Matrix
Table with alternatives Quantify categories and score
alternatives Use judgment to do reality checks Leaves documentation of thought
process of design Can be shared in design reviews
Decision Matrix
Example: Seeking a Job
Criteria Wts. Co. A Co. B Co. C
Location 5
Salary 4
Bonus 2
Job 4
Training 2
Boss 3
Totals
Testing for Failures –DFMEA* Steps
Review the design Brainstorm potential failure modes List potential effects of failure Rank Failures
Severity Occurrence Detection
Develop action plan Implement fixes Revisit potential failure risks
*Design for Failure Mode and Effective Analysis
In a group, Identify one project to use as an example for this
exercise
Describe the project so the whole group understands it
Brainstorm Failures
What could go wrong? What could break? Are there systems your design relies
upon? Are there things that could fail over
time?
Brainstorm a list of potential failures for the project
Rate Failures
Rating
Severity How severe are the consequences to the failure?
Occurrence How often are the failures likely to occur?
Detection How easily are the failures detected
Failure Action Plan
Identify the failure scenario that should be addressed first
Develop an action plan to address the failure scenario
Final Design Tasks
Production Service and Maintenance Retirement or Redesign
STEM Project Design
Questions/Discussions