Six Core Design Criteria

Six Core Design Criteria

Experienced designers do not judge a concept from geometry alone. They review six connected criteria, assign practical weights from the customer requirement and operating context, and then compare the resulting trade-offs.

Experienced designers do not judge a concept from geometry alone. They review six connected criteria, assign practical weights from the customer requirement and operating context, and then compare the resulting trade-offs.

01

Functional Geometry

Does the structure perform the required function through suitable form, interfaces, motion, and operating relationships?

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02

Material Suitability

Do material properties, environment, availability, processing, wear, corrosion, and compatibility support the intended life?

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03

Manufacturing Feasibility

Can the design be produced repeatedly with available processes, tooling, tolerances, inspection, quality, and lead time?

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04

Life Cycle Cost

What cost is created across procurement, production, assembly, operation, maintenance, change, and disposal?

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05

Assemblability & Serviceability

Can the product be assembled, accessed, adjusted, inspected, replaced, and restored safely and consistently?

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06

Risk Control & Robustness

How does the design respond to uncertainty, variation, misuse, failure modes, supply risk, and abnormal conditions?

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From six criteria to one design decision

From six criteria to one design decision

The criteria do not receive equal importance in every project. Their weights are adjusted to the customer requirement, operating conditions, evidence, schedule, cost, and risk, then tested as connected trade-offs.

Explore Design Criteria Weighting →