Many engineers use an organized design process to provide solutions to customer requirements. The process helps to add structure to a project and stimulates creativity. The objective raw data gathered during the process will help reduce bias and aid in better decision making. The engineering process also teaches that failures and setbacks can be valuable sources for information for future projects.
The first step in the engineering design process is defining the problem. Engineers must know what their product is intended to accomplish and why they need it. This is a crucial step for the rest of the engineering process.
Once the problem has been defined it is important to gather as much data about the solution to the need as you can. This can be accomplished by conducting research, asking questions that are critical and thinking about ideas. This is where engineering creativity really shines and where the most innovative solutions can be found.
Engineers must identify potential solutions and weigh their pros and cons before selecting the best. The solution should also be able meet the requirements of the project (e.g. Cost, materials, space, and time are all important aspects.
Once the best solution has been determined, it is an excellent idea to create a model of the product or equipment. Then tests can be run to see if the product does what it is supposed to do. By identifying weaknesses in the beginning the project is able to reduce overall development time and can save money to fix problems later on.