Have you ever designed an innovative product only to face unexpected challenges when transitioning from development to production? Suddenly, adjustments pile up, causing delays, frustration, and extra costs. There is another way: design it “right the first time” by using the DfX approach.
‘With the DfX approach, you establish the foundation for a smooth transition to production right at the start of your project.’
Focus areas
DfX (Design for Excellence) is a systematic approach that ensures all critical (product) factors are incorporated from the start of product development. This method provides practical guidelines to integrate and validate aspects like production, assembly, cost, reliability, and sustainability from the beginning of your project. This results in a design that is right the first time and that seamlessly connects to the production phase.
The “X” in DfX represents excellence and is replaced by the first letter of the focus area, such as:
The foundation of DfX lies in the accumulated and explicitly documented knowledge within the organization — in the form of guidelines, design rules, product requirements, and the presence of experts and knowledge bearers. This knowledge is applied by project teams in their projects. The quality of shared knowledge and the effectiveness with which it is applied are crucial.
Knowledge within the organization
From the start, it is essential to clearly define and specify the DfX focus areas within the project — choosing areas that support the organization’s goals or are crucial for achieving the project outcome.
As a project manager, you ensure that your multidisciplinary team has the expertise needed to tackle the required challenges. Regularly consult relevant experts, especially when making critical decisions. For instance, if you want to ensure a link to the production chain, include a production stakeholder in your team. Additionally, involve key suppliers in the project to incorporate their specific knowledge and skills into the development of the (sub)product. (It’s not the first time a beautiful design can only be produced with adjustments and higher costs.)
By consistently reviewing selected DfX aspects, validating the design for each stage gate, and involving experts in critical decisions, issues and risks are identified and addressed early in the process. This structured approach minimizes the chance of significant modifications (and thus delays and higher costs) in the final project phase.
Quality and reliability
This method works very well for me as a project manager. It helps establish an early grasp on critical design factors in the project. Additionally, it provides tools to maintain control and direct the project. It is essential to keep the right stakeholders involved and to make good use of available knowledge. Moreover, it encourages organizations to continually acquire and share knowledge.
This integrated approach fosters focus within the team, leverages specific expertise within (and outside) the organization, and regularly tests the design application, allowing issues to be addressed promptly. The DfX approach enhances the quality and reliability of the delivered product and the project.
Would you like to learn more about how the DfX approach works?
Contact me for information or advice. I’d be happy to set aside time to discuss the specific possibilities of this method for your organization.
