Manufacture

Manufacture

Definition and Importance

• The term manufacture refers to the process of producing items from raw materials through various methods like machining, forming, casting, or assembly.
• Manufacturing is a vital part of product design as it’s the stage where the design comes to life. The manufactured product’s quality, longevity, usability, and its environmental footprint highly depend on the manufacturing process.

Considerations in Manufacturing

• Production Volume: The number of products needed to be produced influences the manufacturing process to be used. Methods like die casting or injection moulding are more suitable for large production volumes.
• Material Type: Certain manufacturing processes are only applicable to certain types of materials. For instance, welding suits mainly metal-based materials.
• Manufacturability: The product design should be manufacturable - its design aspects like geometry, size, and tolerances should align with existing manufacturing processes.
• Cost: Manufacturing cost encompasses costs for raw materials, machinery, labour, and energy. Strategies to decrease these costs can lead to a more economically efficient product.
• Quality: Manufacturing processes should ensure consistent quality. Quality control tools and techniques are often applied to ensure this.

Implications for Maintenance

• Durability: The manufacturing process should aim to produce a durable product to reduce the frequency of maintenance.
• Product Complexity: Overcomplicating the manufacturing process can lead to a product that’s difficult to maintain. Simple and modular designs often ease maintenance operations.
• Repairability: Products should ideally be manufactured in such a way that individual components can be replaced or repaired when necessary.
• Safety: The manufacturing process should produce safe products — products whose failure wouldn’t pose a risk to the user or the environment.

Implications for Cleaner Environment

• Energy Consumption: Manufacturing processes are often energy-intensive. Reductions in energy consumption during manufacturing can contribute significantly to environmental conservation.
• Waste Minimisation: Lean manufacturing techniques focusing on reducing waste not only improve resource efficiency but also lessen the environmental impact.
• Pollutants: Some manufacturing processes release harmful pollutants. Implementing cleaner technologies or procedures can curtail these emissions.
• Recyclability: Products should be manufactured in a way that allows for their easy disassembly and recycling to reduce their environmental impact at the end of their lifecycle.

These aspects trigger the principle of green manufacturing — a method of manufacturing that minimises waste and reduces environmental impact.