Design management-begin at the beginning

It is pointed out that the current economic environment dictates that some US firms compress product design and development cycles to retain eroding market share and sustain some degree of competitive advantage. To accomplish this, manufacturers must utilize formalized design techniques to boost design efficiency, minimize errors, lower product cost, increase reliability, and shorten time to market. Identification of design risk and resultant timely resolution early in the process can be accomplished at a significantly lower product cost and program impact than if forced to contend with the impact of such deficiencies during the production phase. Guidelines, checklists, strategies, and methodologies which provide for a formal, uniform, and systematic approach to the minimization of the design risk process are proposed. It is noted that the need to control cost, meet schedules, and produce a quality product (the first time through) places a premium on the proper execution of the design risk minimization process