Another process involved in the overall design filed, and one of the most important, is the manufacturing process design and the cost associated with this. There are several approaches to this method, but most recently the popular choice is the integrated approach created by a university in Hong Kong.
This process, known as simply the integrated approach, focuses on the product and process design and the part and assembly planning. It is a technique that is used worldwide in our rapidly growing manufacturing world.
First, the product is determined. Through brainstorming, comparisons, and an overall analysis, the product is designed to a level that is desirable. In other words, the product as a whole is determined and a clear plan is developed around this. This leads into the next stage in this method, which focuses on the actual parts used to create this product.
Next, the part planning stage starts. The product is analyzed top to bottom in order to determine exactly what parts are needed and how many. Also, the tools that will need to be used are determined in this stage. After the materials are all together, all thats left is to create a plan on what to do with this parts, which leads us to our third and final foundational stage.
After everything has been placed in front of the team, they now have to determine what to do with it. This is called the assembly stage, and it is, simply put, the stage where the product is finally assembled. Each stage builds on each other and this stage brings it all together to complete the product. The task sequence is evaluated on a level that will achieve ultimate safety and efficiency.
Finally, the time is published in something similar to a gantt chart. Each
job is given a specific time frame and they overlap and add up to the total plan time. After each part is broken up in these time frames, the cost for each chunk is then analyzed. This is then compared to the cost they developed in the part planning stage and should be similar. These two are then compiled into a final report consisting of the benefits and downfalls of the production of their product.
After all of this, the team then determines through analysis of this plan whether or not is acceptable. If it is not, then they return to each stage separately and try to change things. Then, it will be reanalyzed to see whether or not is is acceptable. When it finally is acceptable, the product can then be manufactured. If the plan that was developed with this integrated approach to manufacturing, then everything should go smoothly.
Sources:
An Approach to Manufacturing Process Design
Good topic. Widely undertsood and written about and these authors just push their own angle. It is a flow chart not a Gantt chart but with times for stages it would also be a timeline management tool like Critical Path or PERT diagrams