Supporting Manufacturing System Design: A Case Study on Application of InDeaTe Design Tool for a Smart Manufacturing System Design

InDeaTe is a Design Tool that aids the designer by empowering ideation through a methodical process of design. This paper presents the evaluation of the tool through a case study on a manufacturing system design problem conducted in University of California, Berkeley. The problem given was to design a ‘smart’ manufacturing line for a lawnmower shaft. Four designers participated in the exercise, in teams of two each; one team used the tool and other did not. Design outcomes were compared. Analysis of the results showed a larger number of ideas generated by the team using the tool compared to the team without the tool. This study, although conducted over a short period with limited number of designers, illustrates the potential of the InDeaTe tool to address manufacturing system design problems by not only developing a richer subset of design outcomes, but also by taking into account sustainability considerations throughout the product life cycle.