Making products manufacturable starts with the design
Co-engineering
A manufacturable design for stable production
Co-engineering works best when we are involved early in the development process. At that stage, choices in function, tolerances, material and construction can still be aligned with stable and repeatable production.
At Doeko, we look together at the function of your high-tech component, module or system and how it can be produced within our production environment. With Design for Manufacturing, we align design choices with manufacturability, assembly and scalability.
We also proactively look for improvements that make the product stronger, easier to manufacture or more efficient to produce. Not by compromising its function, but by critically reviewing material selection, tolerances, production route and process stability.
Even when a product is already in production, optimisation remains part of our approach. We continue to look for ways to make the process smarter, more stable or more efficient. This helps us maintain control over quality, lead time and production cost throughout the full lifecycle of the product.
Design for Manufacturing
What is Design for Manufacturing?
Design for Manufacturing means designing a product so it can be produced efficiently, repeatably and at scale.
It goes beyond manufacturability alone. It includes choices in:
- Tolerances
- Material use
- Workholding
- Machining sequence
- Assembly
- Integration into series production
A design can be technically correct, but still difficult to produce. By aligning the design with the production process, a stable basis is created for scaling up to series production.
Design for Manufacturing shortens the transition from prototype to series production and prevents iterations during the industrialisation process.
Using automation
Design for Manufacturing at Doeko
Because our factory is built around both craftsmanship and advanced automation, we look early at how a product can best be produced. Not every product requires the same production route. Sometimes the best solution is automation. Sometimes it is a dedicated machine, adapted tooling or a more traditional production approach with extra craftsmanship in the process.
Within Design for Manufacturing, we do not only look at the part itself. We focus on the function of the product within the complete system. We assess which tolerances are truly critical, how materials behave during production and how parts will later be assembled, tested or scaled up.
By making these choices early, we align the design with the production environment in which it will actually be made. This prevents unnecessary iterations during industrialisation, shortens the transition to series production and improves the repeatability of components and modules. The result is a product that is technically sound and can be produced efficiently, stably and at scale.
Complex components, modules and systems
From manufacturable to scalable
When a design is suitable for repeatable production within an automated environment, it creates a stable basis for scaling up to series production.
Co-engineering is therefore the first step in the journey from design to scalable production of components, modules and systems.
Do you want to know how we make your design suitable for production within our factory? Contact us or read more about our Factory 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
Practical questions and answers
Can Doeko optimise an existing design for series production?
Yes. Doeko can assess and optimise existing designs for series production. We look at function, tolerances, material selection, production route and assembly. The goal is a design that not only works technically, but can also be produced stably, repeatably and at a controlled production cost.
When should Doeko be involved in product development?
It is best to involve Doeko as early as possible in product development. The earlier manufacturability, tolerances and the production route are considered, the lower the risk of costly changes later. Doeko can also provide targeted support for existing products that are difficult to manufacture.