Applying decision methods to select rapid prototyping technologies

Abstract

Purpose - The use of rapid prototyping (RP) technologies is becoming increasingly popular due to the reduction of machinery prices. Consequently, more and more industries now have the opportunity to apply such processes to improve their product development cycles. The purpose of this paper is to present different decision-making approaches to choose an adequate RP process. Design/methodology/approach - Here, four decision approaches are applied to compare six processes regarding six criteria, using the input data from previous works. As a result, six decision methods are compared. Two different scenarios are constructed, where different important attributes are considered, simulating two different prototype applications. Findings - It is demonstrated that not all methods result in the same RP ranking, however, most of them provide the same first option for a given scenario. The characteristics of the methods could be related to their influence on the evaluation, which serve as guidelines for the decision makers in order to reflect their exact opinion or requirements. Research limitations/implications - Owing to different ways of inputting information into the decision methods, some considerations are made in order to convert as close as possible the RP process attributes and scenario requirements into useful data for each method. In particular, the conversion of scenarios, i.e. the relative importance of the criteria, is somewhat challenging. Originality/value - Although the fundamentals of the decision methods are presented here, one should be careful while comparing the RP process, because their attributes may vary enormously depending on the parameter process to build a part. Despite all the considerations and precautions to be observed, the selection of the RP process can be done in a simple way, dispensing with complex calculations

Multi-attribute method for prioritization of sustainable prototyping technologies

“…The elaboration of decision criteria that aid the selection of the most suitable technology for prototype manufacturing goes far beyond an Borille et al (2010) asserted that the potential of prototyping technology is achieved when setting the relevant elements of the product to be prototyped, such as accuracy, speed, functionality and cost.…”

Método de decisão dos processos de prototipagem rápida na concepção de novos produtos

“…Selecionar qual tecnologia utilizar para construir um determinado protótipo é mais abrangente do que uma simples opinião a respeito, ou seja, requer o conhecimento das tecnologias disponíveis e critérios de decisão para que se possa escolher a alternativa mais adequada. Segundo Borille et al (2010), o potencial da tecnologia é obtido quando se define a priori relevantes elementos do produto a ser prototipado, tais como: precisão, acurácia, funcionalidade e custo. Conforme Machado & Sant'Anna (2013), ao avaliar elementos das peças ou produtos em desenvolvimento, pode-se definir quais tecnologias atendem ou não aos requisitos exigidos do projeto para o desenvolvimento do produto (protótipo).…”

Rational Embracing of Modern Prototyping Capable Design Technologies into the Tools Pool of Product Design Teams

“…The presented decision tool enhances and upgrades preceded AHP implementation for prototyping selection, [34,36,41], both in terms of the considered decision criteria and of the prototype realization alternatives considered, in a realistic way and in close contact with the current industrial practice.…”

“…The problem of a systematic prototyping selection has been recognized and addressed in several ways, [10,[33][34][35][36], with varying effectiveness as a consequence of the everincreasing number of the selection issues, the prototyping technologies, and the rapid changes in the overall new product design and development specifications. In this paper the authors introduce an extended, enhanced, and integrated prototyping alternative selection approach that, in a rational way and for the first time, on one hand recognizes and considers for evaluation all virtual or physical prototyping capable modern design technologies and on the other hand incorporates widely accepted and adopted technical attribute groups, as well as influential nontechnical (managerial, social, and environmental) attributes and their associated design factors into the decision process.…”