Methods
The engineering process at Douna is divided into several main steps, namely:
- Problem statement
- Idea generation
- Concept development
- Testing the concept (proof of principle)
- Refining the concept
- Detail design and specification
In each phase, specific steps are taken to arrive at the right solution effectively.
In the problem statement phase, the customer's requirements and wishes are determined through discussions. The value of these requirements is also assessed to establish their relative importance.
In the idea generation phase, the problem is divided into main functions, which are then worked out using the "6-3-5 method." 6-3-5 refers to 6 people who spend 5 minutes generating 3 solutions each, passing them on to the next person. The various solutions are later evaluated against the customer's requirements and wishes, leading to a final concept.
The preferred concept is tested for feasibility by creating a small prototype setup.
Upon successful completion of the testing, the final details are incorporated into the design, and the package is ready for production. We use Autodesk AutoCAD and Inventor as our drawing tools.