Concurrent engineering (CE)
Concurrent engineering (CE) is a modern engineering approach that facilitates simultaneous execution of various steps in the product development process, such as design, manufacturing, refinement, and improvement. Unlike traditional sequential methods, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, CE aims to streamline these processes, thereby reducing overall development time and costs while potentially enhancing product quality. This method, sometimes referred to as simultaneous engineering, emphasizes collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, allowing for more efficient use of resources and expertise.
Organizations utilizing CE must establish clear goals, design models, and a centralized facility equipped with appropriate technologies to support information sharing and coordination. While adopting CE may initially present challenges, such as the need for effective management of concurrent tasks, its long-term benefits often include improved productivity and a stronger competitive position in the market. Effective strategies within CE can involve modular design, simplification of parts, and collaboration with trusted suppliers, all contributing to a more efficient development cycle. Overall, concurrent engineering represents a significant shift in how engineering processes are conceptualized and executed in various industries.
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Concurrent engineering (CE)
Concurrent engineering (CE) is an important method of modern engineering popular in manufacturing and many other industries. This form of engineering departs from traditional linear methods. In its most basic sense, concurrent engineering involves performing engineering steps such as designing, developing, refining, manufacturing, and improving products more or less at the same time. Many businesses have adopted concurrent engineering as a long-term strategy to reduce development and production time, save money and resources, and, in many cases, improve productivity and product quality. Concurrent engineering is also sometimes called simultaneous engineering; both terms relate to the way the steps of the process occur simultaneously rather than consecutively.
Brief History
Engineering has been an important part of the human experience for thousands of years, since the creation of the first simple machines like wheels and pulleys. The modern era of engineering began hundreds of years ago with increasingly more complex machinery, such as engines, vehicles, and weaponry. The age of industry brought engineering to the forefront, with enormous economic investment and social interest placed upon the invention and manufacture of new and better machines. Those machines, in turn, allowed the technology of engineering to continue advancing.
In the business world, engineering is important in countless fields. Factories rely on engineering to create new products quickly, safely, and efficiently. Markets rely on engineering to transport goods to and from buyers. The Internet and other forms of computer technology are based on the creations and innovations of engineers. Other engineers then use these computer technologies to make new discoveries, share information, and increase benefits. Engineering is the means by which many companies build their profitability and increase their market share, vital aspects of modern business. The applications of engineering are limitless, though traditional methods of engineering have demonstrated weaknesses.
One main goal of engineering is to be as efficient as possible with its component resources, such as materials, time, money, and the efforts of engineers and other workers. Traditional engineering often fails to meet the highest levels of efficiency. Traditional methods are usually organized in sequential patterns in which workers first invent and design a product, then establish an approach to manufacturing the product. Finally, they determine ways to test, improve, and repair the product. Noting the great investment of time and energy required for this sequential process, engineering experts created a new system known as concurrent engineering. In this system, all the main steps in the manufacturing process take place concurrently, or at the same time.
Overview
Traditional approaches to engineering can take a great deal of time, effort, and money. In general, the sequential (or serial) approach to engineering can be arranged into many steps that take place one at a time. The first steps involve the design and development of the product, including initial testing, prototyping, and reviewing. Products are generally revised and redesigned based on the results of the early testing, then tested and reviewed repeatedly until the desired effect is reached. Next, the manufacturing process goes through a similar sequence of events. Finally, the distribution, marketing, sale, and customer services related to the product follows the manufacturing process. Following this sequence chronologically can mean that a product may take weeks, months, or years to go from idea to a finished good or service being used by a customer. During that time, companies may expend huge amounts of energy, money, and other resources.
The development of concurrent engineering opened many minds to the potential of reorganizing the engineering process so that multiple steps of engineering can be coordinated to happen concurrently (at the same time). This method can reduce time and cost requirements and may even produce higher-quality products. Many businesses have adopted concurrent engineering as a long-term strategy. In the short term, this innovation may add many challenges to the production process, as it requires managers and other decision makers to consider a wide variety of factors in production, from the initial idea to the finishing stages, as well as coordinate these factors to occur at the same time. However, concurrent engineering generally proves to be a great benefit once it is established and allowed to develop over months or years.
Concurrent engineering generally requires several factors in an organization. First, the organization must have a clear process or plan for its goal and what product it hopes to create. The organization must use this plan to create a design model by which the manufacturing process will follow. The organization must bring other resources to the project as well, such as a multidisciplinary group of workers who can coordinate and cooperate to share their expertise in a wide range of tasks. When executed correctly, concurrent engineering is a highly cooperative and collaborative process. A centralized facility is also a must for most projects, as are the required technologies, including software networks that can exchange information and refine plans and procedures.
Many additional guidelines may contribute to successful concurrent engineering projects. For example, designing the parts of a product in an efficient way can greatly reduce the time and cost required to build the product. Designing products in modules, or sections that can easily be combined, can save many steps. Making a minimum amount of parts increases simplicity of design and manufacture, and making parts that can be reused for different purposes makes assembly and repair easier. Working with well-known and trusted suppliers, contractors, and other associates can streamline the overall process and ensure quality of work and efficiency. Using such guidelines, organizations can greatly increase their concurrent engineering projects. Doing so can help companies enhance their productivity, create better products, secure and improve their place in a market, and generally produce new goods and services more quickly and inexpensively.
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