Benefits of Design for Manufacturability:
Part II

By David Clark, New Business Development Manager, the Malco Design & Deliver Group

This is the second installment in our series on the benefits of Design for Manufacturability.

Last month we talked about how DFM results in lower capital investment, quicker time to market, and improved quality and reliability. This month, we'll cover five more benefits that derive from applying the principles of DFM.

The next benefit of DFM is Improved Flexibility. The DFM process is designed to be flexible, allowing for both planned and unplanned changes. We have already seen how the application of DFM reduces the complexity of tooling, fixtures and labor. This in turn simplifies setup, reduces inventory, improves internal material logistics and simplifies supply chain management, increasing the flexibility needed to respond to inevitable changes in the development process.

Smoother Transitions into Production is yet another benefit of Design for Manufacturability. Because manufacturability is the key, the production process is front and center in DFM. As the product moves from the design and development phase into the production phase, there are fewer possible issues to affect ramping up the production process. This results in further reductions in the time it takes to reach full production and bring the product to market.

Design for Manufacturability gives you Better Knowledge and Control of the Product. The design principles and guidelines of DFM help you to see problems in advance and respond to these problems in your own time frame. This means that you have better product knowledge and increased control of the product at all steps in the development process.

Higher Levels of Customer Satisfaction is the next important benefit. We have already noted how DFM improves quality and reliability to lower long-term costs and reduce warranty issues. This leads to greater Customer Satisfaction, which also leads to increased customer loyalty. This also means more repeat business as your customers return to purchase your high quality and reliable product.

Finally, DFM can lead to Higher Profits. This benefit is the cumulative effect of all of the other benefits reviewed thus far, leading to increased margins and increased sales. This means Higher Profits for you, not just in the short term, but over the long haul as well.