By incorporating DFX principles, we help our clients develop innovative products that meet business objectives like reducing cost, improving quality, and shortening time-to-market.
DFX, or Design for X, refers to a systematic approach to designing products and processes to achieve specific objectives or characteristics. The "X" represents various targets like manufacturability, reliability, usability, etc. DFX helps companies optimize their products across the entire product lifecycle.
DFX is integrated throughout our product development process, starting with identifying DFX requirements in the specifications phase. Our engineers then develop concepts and detailed designs that address manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, usability, and testability goals. On hardware projects, we apply DFX from low-volume to high-volume production. On software projects, DFX means maintainable code and UIs designed for usability.
DFX represents a holistic approach to product development that optimizes the design against multiple objectives. At Boston Engineering, DFX is a core part of our product development process. We focus on several key DFX areas that align with our expertise:
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
- Design for Assembly (DFA)
- Design for Cost (DFC)
- Design for Testability (DFT)
- Design for Reliability (DFR)
- Design for Serviceability/Maintainability (DFS)
- Design for Usability (DFU)
- Design for Modularity (and Product Platform Design)
Learn more about Design for X (DFX) at Boston engineering: Boston Engineering Design for X
DFX is key to our record of bringing successful products to market across industries. Here are examples of how we may utilize the different DFX disciplines to meet client design goals:
Design for Manufacturability, Design for Assembly, and Design for Cost: We optimize designs to balance manufacturing and assembly efficiency with meeting cost targets. For example, design changes that reduce part count can lower production costs.
Design for Testability: We design products with testing in mind, like including test points on circuit boards or designing assemblies that can be easily fixtured for testing. This verifies product performance during development and manufacturing.
Design for Reliability: We design products to meet reliability requirements through techniques like redundancy, derating components, and testing. For medical devices, we conduct rigorous reliability testing to ensure products meet stringent standards.
Design for Serviceability/Maintainability: Our designs allow for easier service and maintenance through modularity, diagnostics capabilities, and common tools/procedures. For large equipment, we design components to be easily accessible and replaceable.
Design for Usability: While we don't have extensive in-house human factors capabilities, we work with UX consultants to incorporate usability and ergonomics into product designs based on how users interact with the products.
Design for Modularity: We utilize modular design approaches to enable flexibility, upgradability, and component standardization across product families. This facilitates reuse and lowers costs.
While it's tempting to rely solely on internal resources and capabilities, working with an experienced Design for X firm can offer a multitude of benefits that accelerate the design, development, and performance of your new or existing product. These benefits include a streamlined process, cost controls, accelerated timelines, and mitigation of failure risks - before the product has even launched! Learn more about the value of strategic design for X partnerships with Boston Engineering.
Understanding the Importance of a DFX approach
Applying Design for X (DFX) methodologies upfront in product development optimizes the entire lifecycle by improving manufacturability, testability, reliability, usability, and other critical characteristics. This avoids costly redesigns later on, facilitates high-quality products that satisfy customers, reduces manufacturing and service costs, and supports flexibility through modularity and platforms. The holistic perspective of DFX drives efficient, cost-effective delivery of successful products that provide competitive advantage. Investing in DFX early pays dividends across the entire product lifespan.
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The Boston Engineering product development system encompasses DFX to ensure a smooth product launch and success in the marketplace. Boston Engineering has DFX knowledge and experience to address aspects and values of a product such as manufacturability, test, reliability, safety, serviceability, cost, and compliance with industry standards and government regulations.
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Whether you’ve created a new technology, or have an innovative way to use an existing solution, Boston Engineering will turn your ideas into reality. Our experts and Industry Partners will enhance your current team or manage the entire Product Development Process from Market Analysis to Production. Don't leave complex projects or high visibility product launches to chance. Know you're going to get the results you want by working with industry leaders in design, development, and deployment of innovative products driven by Novel Engineering. Contact Boston Engineering Today to get started.
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