Design Review Process
What is a Design Review?
A way to ensure your design tasks are on the right track
Open forum to receive constructive feedback to improve a design from many perspectives (function, manufacturability, cost, etc)
Critical skill in industry - if you can execute a successful design review you are doing great!
Design Review Process for UWRT
1) Preliminary Design Review
Used to demonstrate the designer’s understanding of project scope
Answers the following (at a broad glance):
Why am I doing this design project?
Why is it important?
What defines a successful design (criteria + constraints + competition rules)
Very rough design concept (sketches, incredibly simple CAD)
If you have multiple design concepts, include them all. Be prepared to justify which design you want to move forward with
Risk Assessment for concepts (technical risks, manufacturing risks, budget risks, etc.)
Proposal for design concept (how can you mitigate identified risks, why do you think this design is best to meet criteria, constraints and competition rules
Proposed Timeline for Project
2) Critical Design Review
Used as a final check before manufacturing or integrating a new design into a system
Should include:
Review of design scope
Review of criteria, constraints + relevant competition rules
Review of selected design concept from PDR
Detailed CAD overview of new design
Circle back as to how this design conforms to all requirements
Dive into manufacturing methods for all custom parts
Dive into assembly methods for whole assy
Cost estimate
Material sourcing plan
Best Practices
As a designer, you are responsible for working with your team lead to schedule PDRs and CDRs
Whole mech team will be invited for a given CDR or PDR plus potential members from other sub teams (i.e. electrical or fw for bigger projects)
Documentation for design reviews will be hosted on confluence
Finish your CDR and PDR documents and send them out at least 24hrs in advance of schedule review meeting!!!!!
Links
Sample PDR Format Sample CDR Format