GE105

Introduction to Engineering Design

College of Engineering
King Saud University

Lecture 5.
Need Analysis and
Problem Definition
SPRING 2016
Before We Start

If I had only one hour to save the

world, Id spend 55 min defining
the problem and 5 minutes
finding a solution

A problem properly stated

is half solved
Charles Kettering (American
inventor and the holder of over 300
engineering patents)
The Big Picture
Customer Design Engineer

Communication

Communication

Product Manufacturer

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Importance of Communication

Design Construction

Poor communication between the designer and the

construction team lead to the collapse of the second floor
114 people died !!!
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Design Process

Customer needs a solution

(Client statement)

Analyze the Needs problem

This lecture
definition and formulation

System Design
(Conceptual + Detailed )

System integration and

product test

Properly functioning system

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 Client Need
Input
Statement

Talk with the

client (interview)
Tasks Some potential
users (survey)
Brainstorming
Problem
statement
Output Objectives
Constraints
Criteria
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Clients Need Statement
First understand what the problem is (what
does the customer want?)
Often, the customer does not know exactly what
s/he wants nor what is achievable
Client Statements usually have limitations
such as:
Bias (e.g., reconsider admission
strategy; whereas the problem
could be managing classrooms)
Imply solutions (e.g., replace the
door; whereas another solution can
be better)
Make sure that the correct problem is
being addressed 7
Client Statement:
The residents of one of my tall buildings are
complaining that the elevators are slow
Interpretation 1:
you have to install another elevator at great
expense
Interpretation 2:
Put entertainment on the main floors and provide
some coffee

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 The statement is a very short paragraph
providing answers to (What? Why? How?)
Written in the language of the customer
Normally straightforward, non technical and non
quantifiable
 The problem addressed by the Wright
brothers at the turn of the 20th century
was:
Need a manned machine capable of
achieving powered flight

This means that:

1. They wanted to design a flying machine
2. It must carry a person (which rules out model
aircraft)
3. An onboard power source must be used to take
off (which eliminates hot air balloons)
How to Assess Needs
Question the customer
Explore resources (gathering information)
Technical literature (books,
journals,www)
Similar designs (competitors, patent
search)
Search legal and regulatory restrictions
Allocation of frequency bands
Restriction on tower heights
Environmental impacts
Safety
Brainstorm
Investigate Manufacturability issues
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Types of Specifications
Design Specs : provide basis for evaluating the design
(e.g., safe, light, inexpensive, simple)
Functional Specs: describe what the product must do
(e.g., drilling, grinding, polishing)
Performance Specs: to judge how good is the design
(e.g., speed, energy, accuracy)

Use (but dont confuse) Demanded design

elements and Wished for design elements
Be as specific as possible by using numbers
where possible (e.g., not heavy but 2.5 kg)
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Common Categories for Specifications

Performance Manufacturability
Geometry Standards
Materials Safety
Energy Transport
Time Ergonomics
Cost Weight

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Need Analysis Example Questions:
Why?
1. When and why do you use the product? How?
2. What do you like about existing products? What?
3. What dont you like about other products?
Who?
4. What are the required functions?
Where?
5. Who is the product user?
When?
6. Where is the product going to be used (environment)?
7. What are the unacceptable options/behaviors of the product?
8. What should the product satisfy?
9. What specifications do we have/know?
10. Are there any legal issues?
11. What are the human factors to be considered?
12. What is the expected life duration of the product?

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Design Objectives
Objectives are the requirements that the
design is to satisfy (Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Realistic, Time bound)

Construct an Objective Tree

by:
Listing objectives according
to the assessed needs stable
Safe
Grouping the relevant Strong
objectives Ladder
Inexpensive
Forming a hierarchical tree
structure Marketable Portable

Durable
 The Design Objectives can be divided into:
Primary (need/must)
Secondary (wish/want)
The Primary Objective is what the customer/client
really needs
Without the primary objective the design is a failure
The Secondary (Less important) Objectives are not
necessarily specified; but can have an added value
to the product (e.g., Safety, simplicity, beauty)

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Constraints
Constraints are boundaries that limit the
engineers flexibility. They form the
design envelope (feasible design space)
They help to identify acceptable designs
Should be measurable
Should be answered with True/False;
Yes/No
Example: Cost <1000 SAR
Weight <500 N
Flexible system (yes/no)

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Sources of Constraints

Cost: Cost of design, production, maintenance, support

Time: delivery dates, processing, time to market
Legal, ethical: Patents, intellectual property, product
reliability, safety requirements
Physical: size, weight, power, durability
Natural factors: topography, climate, resources
Company practices: Common parts,
manufacturing processes
Human Factors/Ergonomics
Sustainability
Environment: Bio-degradable materials,
recycled materials, green energy

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Design Criteria
Criteria are indicators defining the
success of achieving the objectives
Criteria define the product physical
and functional characteristics
They represent descriptive adjectives
that can be qualified on a given scale:
examples: beautiful, low cost, low
noise, smart, low weight
Might be used for judging between
different designs

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Examples of Criteria To be Qualified say on a scale 1 to 10
1 (worst) and 10 (best)

High safety Ease of Maintenance

Environment friendliness Ease of Manufacturing

Public Acceptance Aesthetic design (Appearance)

Geometry
Performance
Physical Features
Ease of operation
Reliablity
Durability
Use Environment
Cost

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Example :Specs for designing an " Auto-golfer"
Geometry D Single unit, 3 foot circle
Materials W Not degrade in rain snow, 30F
Time D Ready to go < 14 weeks
Cost D $600 (exclusive of radios)
Manufacture W Off-the-shelf parts as possible
Standards D Radios OK for FAA regulations

Safety D Must pass safety review

Transport D Must be portable

Compactness W Should fit in a car or small truck

D=demand
W=wish

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Problem Definition

Specifications
Need
Analysis

Objectives
Constraints
Problem
Definition Criteria

A paragraph
compiling the
Problem
Formulation
above points

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To summarize

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