Processes: Critical Design Review (CDR)Critical Design Reviews are probably already a part of your design processes but if it is not, it should be. Depending upon what is being reviewed, it is important that the functional groups within operations be invited. Since the organization is most likely small, those groups would most likely be the Engineering group, Manufacturing/Test Engineering, Purchasing and Configuration Management. Engineering would prepare a ‘package’ with all pertinent process documentation and send out to each respective group before the actual meeting so that they can have time to review the material and prepare.Manufacturing/Test Engineering would review designs for manufacturability and testability but also from a process perspective to visualize and formulate how the part, subassembly or product will be built. The ME/TE will also be cognizant of part selection as well so that he/she can validate with Engineering that the proper materials were used with cost in mind but without sacrificing quality and reliability. Examples would be using ceramic capacitors instead of tantalum capacitors or use of plastic instead of aluminum. The idea here is to suggest and make changes if it makes good business sense.
The Purchasing person would be focusing on materials and BOMs to plan out how these parts will be purchased. They will focus on things like ‘hard to get’ or long lead-time parts so they can alert engineering that there may be issues. Configuration Management would look at how the BOMs will be structured from a top down and bottoms up approach that also ties in with how the part will be manufactured (based upon input from ME/TE and Purchasing). It is never too early to start putting the BOMs in order of how they will be manufactured internally, outsourced or both. This person will get a handle on the amount of drawing files that will need to be released and controlled moving forward.
All of the functional groups may not need to attend the entire review depending upon topics that are being discussed. For example, the Purchasing person wouldn’t need to attend the system software review portion. Time is precious so use common sense and make decisions accordingly.
Return to Processes
|
