Better by design - development of a framework to guide design improvement in SMEs

摘要

This paper introduces a framework to guide the improvement of product design capability in SMEs. The work described is part of a larger study, aimed at improving the design of products in UK manufacturing companies through a holistic approach to product development, integrating industrial design, engineering design and product planning. This project will ultimately develop a validated 'design improvement procedure', and is following a procedural action research methodology [1]. The total project is being undertaken in three discrete phases, as described below: ·Phase 1: Development of a framework to guide design improvement in SMEs ·Phase 2: Development of design audit tool and design capability improvement procedure ·Phase 3: Validation of audit tool and capability improvement procedure, and development of a practical working guide This paper presents detail of the framework developed during phase 1 of the project. For the purpose of our research, we define product design as 'a set of activities which translate user needs into a manufacturable reality for commercial benefit.'