College of Engineering

GE106:Introduction to Engineering Design

Need Analysis

By

Matthew Amao
 Outline
• Opening Statements
• The Big Picture
• Importance of Communication
• The Design Process
• Client’s Need Statement
• Problem Statement
• How to Assess Needs (Need Analysis)
• Types of Specifications
• Design Objectives
• Design Constraints
• Design Criteria
• Problem Definition
• Summary

Monday, February 10, 2020 Introduction to Engineering Design GE-106 2

 Opening Statements

“If I had only one hour to save the

world, I’d 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 Role Of The Design Engineer
in a civil engineering context
Customer Design Engineer

Communication

Communication

Product Manufacturer
(Builder)
4
 The Design Process
Customer needs a solution
(Client statement)

Analyze the Needs  problem

definition and formulation This lecture

System Design
(Conceptual + Detailed )

System integration and product

test

Properly functioning system

5
 Design Process

Customer needs a solution to a problem

Requirement analysis

System Design
(Conceptual Design + Preliminary Design)

Detailed design and test

System integration and product test

Properly functioning system

 Requirement Analysis

Requirement Analysis is usually

done by upper management Customer needs a solution to a problem

Assess needs

Statement of problem

Exam Problem Definition Specify design requirements

Requirement specifications

So What are my Requirements?

 Requirement Analysis

Customer needs a solution to a problem

Assess needs

Statement of problem
What Do I Need?!

Specify design requirements

Requirement specifications
8
 Needs Assessment
• The aim is not to solve the problem
but to understand what the problem
is;
– What does this client want?
– What is the problem that the design is to
solve?
Who is my Neighbor?

• The objectives (goals) and constraints

of the problem should be identified
– Objectives: summary of the needs that
the design is to satisfy

– Constraints: what the design must

satisfy. This limits the Engineers
flexibility. (takes logical values 0 or 1,
helps to decide acceptable or not) Constraints!
 Client’s Need Statement

• First understand what the problem is (i.e. what does

the customer want?)
• Often, the customer does not know exactly what he/she
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)
• Implied solutions (e.g., replace the
door; whereas another solution can
be better*)
• Make sure that the correct problem is
being addressed
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 How to Assess Needs? (1/2)

• Question the customer

– To define the design problem
– To understand budget and schedule constraints
– Reliability and maintenance constraints

• Explore resources
– Expertise (knowledge and experience)
– Technical literature (books, journals,www)
– Measurement and testing equipments
(equipment suppliers)
– Similar designs (competitors, patent search)
 How to Assess Needs? (2/2)
• Search legal and regulatory restrictions
– Allocation of frequency bands
– Restriction on tower heights
– Environmental impacts
– Safety

• Manufacturability issues: How easy it

is to manufacture the design/product?

Environment
 Importance of Manufacturability and
Communication
A miscommunication within a building construction team lead to
this accident due to the wrongful interpretation of the design.

Second floor collapsed, 114 people died

 Requirement Analysis

Customer needs a solution to a problem

Assess needs

Statement of problem
Homer: Oh my God, I’m gonna be
eaten alive be a SHARK!
Specify design requirements
The SHARK: Oh my God, Homer
Simpson is gonna land on my
head!!
Requirement specifications
 Problem Statement
• 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.
• It is constructed in response to an expressed need. Engineer
should identify, understand and validate the need before
designing, failure to do this could lead to a failure of the design
process.

The Engineer must translate the Customer’s need into engineering

terms. The results are expressed as a problem statement and a list
of specifications.

NOTE: Problem definition and problem statement are similar but problem definition has
more details about the problem, while a problem statement is just a very short
paragraph answering what, why and how a problem will be solved.
 The Wright Brothers’ Example

• The problem addressed by the Wright

brothers at the turn of the 20th century
was:
Need a manned machine capable of
achieving powered flight1

• This means that2:

1. They wanted to design a flying machine.
2. It must carry a person (which rules out model/prototype aircraft).
3. An onboard power source must be used to take off (which
eliminates hot air balloons or gliders)
 Statement of the Problem (1/3)

• In the language of the customer, normally

straightforward, non-technical and non
quantifiable (measurable).

When Asked to Write a Problem Statement, the student should…

Problem Statement: Re-write the original problem in your own words without
using highly technical terms (as if it’s the language of the customer). However,
since it is you the engineer who questioned the customer about what he/she
wants exactly, more will be added that resemble parts of the objectives and
the need analyses but in a paragraph format.

The problem statement paragraph should be at least 3-5 lines long!

 Statement of the Problem (2/3)

• Tools that help

– Question the customer
– Differentiate Needs and Wants

Wants
Most times the customer
himself does not know True needs
what he wants exactly Musts
nor what is tangible in his
case and the engineer
therefore needs to clarify Needs as reflected to
the situation… problem statement
 Statement of the Problem (3/3)

– Make Input/Output Analysis

– Preview the user interface and operation of the

device

Internet User Interface

 Design Objectives

Objectives are the requirements

that the design must satisfy .

The objectives should be SMART,

i.e. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic, Time bound)

• Construct an Objective Tree by:

stable
• Listing objectives according Safe
to the assessed needs Strong
Ladder
• Grouping the relevant Inexpensive
objectives
Marketable Portable
• Forming a hierarchical tree
structure Durable
 Design Objectives: Need vs. Wish
• 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), etc.
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 Requirement Analysis

Customer needs a solution to a problem

Buildings zoning requirements Assess needs

Statement of problem

Specify design requirements

Some design requirements might be Enforceable Requirement specifications

by the State such as this western home earth
quake requirements
 Types of Specifications1 (Specs)
• Design Specifications : provide basis for evaluating the design
(e.g., safe, light, inexpensive, simple)
• Functional Specifications : describe what the product must do
(e.g., drilling, grinding, polishing)
• Performance Specifications: to judge how good is the design
(e.g., speed, energy, accuracy)
Specifications – “an act of identifying something precisely or of stating a precise requirement”
“a detailed description of the design and materials used to make something”
A specification often refers to a set of documented requirements to be satisfied by a material,
design, product, or service. A specification is often a type of technical standard. There are
different types of technical or engineering specifications, and the term is used differently in
different technical contexts. Wikipedia
 Use (but don’t confuse) “Demanded” design elements and
“Wished for2” design elements
 Be as specific as possible by using numbers where possible (e.g.,
not “heavy” but “2.5 kg”) 23
 Requirement
Specifications

Can be a long list of required

specifications detailing what is
required from the design to
achieve…
 Specify Design Requirements
• Translating client and user
needs into terminology that
helps us find ways to realize
those needs and measure how
well we met them;
– How will everyone that take part in
the design know that it is done?
– It turns the problem statement
into a technical, quantified
specification.

• Sets out criteria for verifying

that the design meets its
intended objectives.

• Describes the test for

verification (confirmation). Stair Design Criteria Sketched

25
 Specifications

• How can I express what the client wants in terms

that helps me as an engineer?

• Expressible as numbers and measures.

• Precise description of the properties of the object

being designed.
 Specification Types
Example: Pin Remover
The pin-remover is to be light.
• Design Specs : provide The pin-remover must work in a wet, cold,
basis for evaluating the and dusty environment.
The Pin-remover must be safe
design The Pin-remover must have a 3-year warranty.
The Pin-remover is to be rugged.
… must work with air pressure.
… is be easy to use.
… is to pass “HTS” tests.
… is to last 5 years in normal usage.
… is to be easy to carry
… is to sell for less than $150.
… is to cost less than $50 to make.
… is to have low maintenance needs.
… is to be difficult to use as a hammer.
… must not infringe on patented devices.
… Production volume is to be 300 per year
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 Specification Types…

• Functional Specs: what the

thing must do?

Example: Power Drill

• Functions
–Used with Drill Bits to create
or enlarge holes
– Other uses including
• Grinding
• Buffing/Polishing Functional Specification
• Wire brushing • Drill size
• Speed
• Power screw driver • Power
• Size
• Weight
• Battery charging time
• Cost
 Specification Types …

• Performance specs:
tells us how well the
design is

• Metrics : Tools for

testing and measuring
the performance
Metrics: Are indicators of performance

Water Pump Performance

29
Common Categories for Specifications*

Performance
Geometry
Materials Manufacturability
Energy
Standards
Time
Safety
Cost
Transport
Ergonomics
Weight
30
 Example 1: Problem

• I don't want my
iron to tip
over easily
causing water to
spill out and
possibly breaking
the iron should it
fall off the
ironing table.
 Example 1: Solution Need Analysis
• Can be retrofitted to existing irons
These could be the ideas
• Does not damage ironing table coming to your mind on
how to achieve the
• Easy to install and remove objective

• Cannot occupy a large area on ironing

table

• Cannot interfere with operation of iron

• Cannot be damaged by iron (heat, water)

• Should not cost more than $2, should

probably be included with ironing table or
iron.

Target market: People who iron clothes on

an unstable ironing surface
 Example 2: Problem

• I want to
store books in my
car while
providing plenty
A smart student wondering what to
of room for do with his books

passengers
 Example 2: Solution
• Must store typical load and size of
books for a college student (10 kg)
• Must resist degradation from These could be the ideas
coming to your mind on
sunlight, moisture, extreme cold and how to achieve the
heat. objective
• Cannot occupy floor or seat space
• Cannot interfere with operation of
any controls (radio, a/c, steering,
gearshift, pedals, movement of seats)
or passengers' freedom of
movement.
• Easy to install and remove
• Cannot damage the car
• Should not allow books to eject Target market: People who
during a severe crash transport books and other
people at the same time
• Should not cost more than $15
 Example 3: Problem
• There is a need in
underdeveloped countries
for building materials. One
approach is to make building
blocks (10x15x30 cm) from
highly compacted soil.

• Your assignment is to design

a block-making machine with
the capacity for producing
1000 blocks per day at a Brick making in Pakistan
capital cost of less than SR
5000.

• Develop need analysis, a

definitive problem
statement, and a plan for the
information that will be
needed to complete the
design. Brick making by a young boy
 Example 3: Solution
• Needs Analysis:

– Must be capable of being constructed Notice how the need

with local materials and labor. analysis is extracted from
the problem while
– Blocks of 10x15x30 cm expanding it to include
how the solution would
be in this case, therefore,
– Total cost is less than SR 5000.
you will find some more
information in it that
– Should be easily transported to was not given in the
different locations. original problem!

– Powered with human labor. This is how we can assess

how good did you
– Cannot count on availability of understand the problem
electricity. “Scenario” which is why
open ended problems
– Hydraulic components may be invalid are usually disliked by
because cost and/or maintenance some students!
(sand in seals, etc.)
Example 3: Solution (Analyses of Need)

• Musts • Wants
– Cost less than SR 5000 – Able to make tiles of 5x15x30
– Weight less than 700 N. cm
– Human powered – Easily maintained.
– Made from local materials – Easy and safe operation.
– Easily manufactured. – Available to a variety of soil
– Produce 10x15x30 cm mixes.
blocks
– Produce 600 blocks/day

Analyses of the need to determine what we must have and what is nice to have!
 Example 3: Solution (Problem Definition)

The objective of this project is the design

and construction of a prototype model of Notice how the problem
a block-making machine. The blocks are to statement when it is to be
be made of soil cement and are 10 x15 x written by you, the student is
simply re-writing the original
30 cm. The machine must be human problem with added
powered, weigh less than 700 N, cost less information that you probably
than SR 5000, and be capable of producing obtained from the imaginary
1000 blocks per day with a 5 person crew. customer.
The machine should be easily constructed
of local materials with local labor. The Note how some of the points
machine also should be capable to a added are really suitable to be
variety of soil cement mixtures and to objectives and others may have
making tiles 5cmx10 cmx30 cm. A crew of come from the need analyses!!
three persons should be capable of
operating the machine to produce 600
blocks per day.
Example 3: Solution (Information Needed)
• Determination of the processing
conditions for making blocks.

– What pressures must be

generated? Curing temperature
and time? Effect of different soil
mixes on pressure.

• Mechanism for generating pressure.

• Human factors in design: Magnitude What manufacturing,

of force that can be exerted without product, safety, legal,
causing human fatigue. market and technical
information do we need
to succeed in our design?
• Materials handling.

• Available construction materials and

properties.
 Example 4: Problem

• Customer
needs a
solution to a
problem
of designing a
guitar tuner
Example 4: Solution (Problem
Statement)

Notice how little

– The accuracy of the device information the
will be measured by the original problem gave
difference between the pitch you about the tuner
and yet this is the
of a tuned string and the answer. Therefore, you
correct pitch. The limits need to be creative in
your answers, un-
should be well within those of limited in your
a guitar that has been thinking, and of course,
professionally tuned and then it doesn’t hurt if you
knew how to play the
played for one week without guitar to answer the
further tuning (correction). problem!
 Example 4…Objective trees
Fast

Good performance
for beginners
Accurate

Guitar Tuner
Inexpensive

Marketable Portability

Convenience
(ease of operation)

Maintanence
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 Constraints
• Constraints are boundaries that limit the
engineer’s 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

 High safety  Ease of Maintenance

 Environment friendliness  Ease of Manufacturing

 Public Acceptance  Aesthetic design (Appearance)

 Performance  Geometry

 Ease of operation  Physical Features

 Durability  Reliability
 Cost  Use Environment

These criteria (or whatever criteria you have) are to be

qualified (ranked) say on a scale 1 to 10, where 1 (worst)
and 10 (best) *
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Problem Definition

• Specifications
Need
Analysis

• Objectives
• Constraints
Problem
Definition • Criteria

• A paragraph compiling
Problem the above points
Formulation

47
Summary
Problem Definition
• Turn the problem
statement into a
technical, quantified
problem definition
• Precise description of
the properties of the
object being designed
• Can be a long list

48
College of Engineering
GE106:Introduction to Engineering Design

Need Analysis

By

Matthew Amao