The Design ProcessDesign can be defined as the methodical approach to the solution of a problem. Fundamentally, the goal of good engineering design is to create a final product that will not only work efficiently, but also be commercially successful. Except in the simplest cases, the design process is a very complicated procedure requiring the services of a number of people. highly qualified personnel. The main steps in product design can follow the model shown below. Demand Before something can be sold, there must be someone willing to buy it. A happy customer is one of the best salespeople a business can have. It is therefore necessary to establish and maintain consumer confidence by marketing a quality and reliable product at a reasonable price. It is important to understand who the buyer is likely to be. If, for example, the item is intended for use in the home rather than in a factory, it will generally not need to be as sturdy, but will require a more attractive finish. Design drafters are primarily concerned with improving or adapting existing products to meet the changing needs of the consumer. Often its customers will ask a company to make a machine larger or faster than those currently being made. Competition encourages a manufacturer to continually improve its products and provide good service. In fact, one of the biggest external influences is competing equipment, which affects the cost, function and appearance of a new design to a considerable extent. From the customer's point of view, a new product must offer a deci...... middle of paper ...... start. This is accomplished by subdividing the drawings into logical units for assembly, followed by further subdivision into detailed instructions on the manufacture of each individual element. Throughout this phase, the designer is guided by past experience, relevant standards, codes of practice and specifications. Patterns When studying the relative positions of major units in one's layout, one may find it useful to use design patterns, particularly where plant layout or complicated mechanisms are concerned. If exact scale replicas are not essential, special kits, available from model manufacturers, can be used. Since he may have to seek advice from experts who are unfamiliar with the writing procedure, it may be easier for them to visualize and critique his ideas in template form rather than having to go through stacks of layout drawings.