Abstract
The main task of product development is to develop a good product at lower cost and to bring it to market in a shorter period. Conventional computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) systems are well established in this regard. However, although upstream design is particularly important in product development [1] to add value and incorporate the required functions, it is difficult to apply conventional shape-based CAD/CAE systems to the upstream design stage due to the lack of design information at that stage. As a solution to this issue, We are proposing the development of a design framework called "1DCAE," which can be applied to the early design stage of product development including the conceptual and functional design phases. 1DCAE is defined as the design concepts, methods, and tools that cover the early design stage. The output of 1DCAE is input as the design requirements to a conventional CAD/CAE system, which transforms the design requirements into an actual product image. The CAD/CAE results are then fed back to 1DCAE to verify the overall functions. The 1DCAE concept is expected to realize design innovation and more innovative products. On the other hand, the product development strongly depends on the ability of engineers. Therefore we need the mechanical engineering education aiming for product development and human resource development to realize the 1DACAE concept.
