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Original Date: 05/23/1994
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Design for Manufacture
Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport provides Design for Manufacture (DFM) services to improve communication between design agents and manufacturing operations. Traditionally, the design and production functions operated in succession with no feedback or communication during the process of designing and implementing a product into the production cycle. Problems were often the result of the virtually independent operation of these functions. Designers were often not aware of the costs associated with fabrication and production equipment modifications or additional costs to accommodate special or specific features.
Keyport is attempting to correct the communication problem and reduce costs. Design agents are contacted to convey the benefits of early design-production meetings, preliminary drawing reviews, and concurrent design. NUWC Keyport Manufacturing Engineers review part drawings, Computer Sided Design (CAD) models and other technical information to assess the manufacturing costs associated with the part. As a result of this manufacturing review, Keyport engineers provide feedback on optimizing the part features, geometries and assembly relationships to minimize manufacturing costs. Very often, subtle changes in the part design have resulted in dramatic reductions in machining time with no affect on the part functionality. The final part of this process is the ability to produce a rapid prototyping part utilizing Keyport’s Selective Laser Sintering system to produce a nylon or metal part directly from the part model.
By incorporating DFM, costs are reduced by tailoring parts to existing manufacturing methods, better preparation for special features, reduced rework, reduced design changes, and reduced lead times. Communication has improved with design agents during projects and for future work. Shop floor personnel support the DFM program since their knowledge and experience is included earlier in the design processes, and they are better prepared for production with fewer delays.
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