Design for assembly (DFA) is a term that gets tossed around a lot in the production world - but what does it mean? In a nutshell, DFA is the practice of designing parts to go together with the least amount of adjustment possible. This method removes the need to assemble any part by hand or require tools, thereby reducing production time and cost. The benefits of using DFA include reduced production time and cost and improved product quality. All this sounds great in theory, but how does it work in practice? Let's take a look at an example. Imagine you're designing a widget. The traditional approach would be to design each part of the widget separately without considering how they will all fit together. With DFA, you would start by thinking about how the device will be assembled - what order will the parts go in, which parts need to be attached first, etc. By considering these factors from the outset, you can design each component to fit together perfectly, without any adjustments during assembly.

Most companies that manufacture products still use an outdated design process, resulting in many manufacturing problems. For example, they might only test the product at one size lifecycle, making it difficult to detect or fix defects early on. The confusing process leads to late identification of defects, resulting in more manufacturing cycle iterations before reaching the desired quality level. By using a more modern approach to design, companies can avoid these pitfalls and create products that are easier and less costly to manufacture. Design for manufacturability (DFM) is a methodology that considers the entire product lifecycle, from conception to delivery. By accounting for all potential manufacturing scenarios upfront, DFM can help companies avoid expensive design modifications later. In addition, DFM can also help improve communication between engineers and manufacturers, leading to a more streamlined production process. As a result, DFM is a vital tool for any company that wants to stay ahead of the competition.