Simultaneous Engineering: A Case Study

Simultaneous Engineering was used to design a new line of 600 Series tandem disks. Although the application of this technique met with many challenges, it was instrumental in achieving the objectives of the program. The Simultaneous Engineering approach can achieve significant cost reduction by preventing “avoidable” costs from entering the design during the initial stages. Product development proceeds with manufacturability built in and the method yields product and process designs that compliment each other. However, Simultaneous Engineering requires significant cultural change within the organization. New management emphasis is necessary to maximize benefits of the technique. Recommendations for engineering education are also included.