It sounds simplistic, doesn’t it? Refining a design; just change it, I have heard so many people say. But it is never that straightforward and throughout my career, I have often experienced that by altering one thing, function or component of a product, can lead to something else needing attention the consequences of and sometimes the unseen/unintended consequences of change!
Product refinement is part of the overall engineering design process. Whether this is part of the development of a totally new or a refinement of an existing product. In manufacturing, engineers like me have to be prepared to solve design problems whichever camp a product falls in, and work on it until we get it right. It can sometimes feel we are going around in circles, but a great sense of satisfaction by all involved is felt, when a design issue is solved.
In new product development refining the design usually takes place after testing/evaluation is carried out. Thus any issues arising, can be focused on, revised and improved. This stage will be repeated until all issues have been satisfactory resolved. Usual problems encountered relate to the product being considered unsafe, will not work as designed, or is proving too expensive to produce. Although engineers are generally considered to be good problem solvers, sometimes there are many solutions to a problem, with making changes to a number of variables possible.
Sometimes a design of a product evolves, such as the development of a new feature. You’d be surprised in how many instances a tweak in one area, can negatively affect the operation on other areas. So design activity can be quite cyclic in nature, going around in circles, until the problem has been satisfactory resolved. In some extreme cases designers have even been known to start back at the beginning again, the so called 'back to the drawing board' approach!
Issues can happen to the best of us. Look no further than Formula 1. It is general knowledge that Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team are experiencing some engineering problems relating to the refining of their design, which is in turn affecting the performance and handling of the vehicle.
External links for further reading:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/61202423
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60722566
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12472/12569571/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-driver-laments-big-problems-as-team-struggle-ahead-of-bahrain-gp
