Are your production costs unnecessarily putting pressure on your project's profit margins? It's tempting to look for cheaper suppliers or materials. However, the greatest gains can often be made in the design phase itself. In this article, you will discover how technical optimisation leads to structurally lower costs.
The impact of design on cost
Did you know that most of the cost is determined at the drawing board? Once a design is frozen, the opportunities to save are limited. Product engineering offers the opportunity to critically evaluate features and forms.
By making smart choices in this early stage, you will prevent costly operations. A complex component can often be simplified without loss of functionality. This directly results in a more efficient production process and lower investments in tooling.
Material reduction through smart constructions
A heavier component does not necessarily equate to a better component. We carefully examine wall thicknesses and reinforcing ribs in the design. Using less material directly results in a lower price per unit produced.
In addition, the wall thickness affects the cycle time during the injection moulding. Thinner walls cool faster, allowing the machine to produce more products per hour. This way, the blade cuts both ways: less raw material and a higher output.
Merging features and components
Why produce two separate parts when one will suffice? Smart engineering makes it possible to integrate functions into a single component. This could include moulding-in snap-fit connections, guides or mounting points.
At Euro-Techniek, we've noticed this drastically reduces assembly costs. You save on loose fasteners such as screws and glue. Furthermore, you reduce the number of operations required for assembly.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) prevents failures
A design should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also feasible to manufacture. Design for Manufacturing tests the design against the realities of the production floor. We analyse whether tolerances are achievable and if manufacturability is guaranteed.
By taking the production process into account, we prevent problems during series production. This offers you various financial benefits:
- Preventing costly post-production adjustments to moulds.
- Minimising production scrap and product rejection.
- Extending the lifespan of your production assets.
- More stable processes leading to increased delivery reliability.
The right tolerances for the right price
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Our experts advise you on the balance between precision and cost. We ensure that the specifications match the function of the part. This means you never pay for accuracy you don't actually need.
Achieving cost savings with smart product engineering is the most effective way to increase your margin. By focusing on material usage, function integration, and manufacturability, you reduce the total integrated cost. You get a better product for a sharper price. Would you like to know how much you can save on your next production run? Explore the possibilities of our Toolmaking of get in touch met Euro-Techniek for a technical analysis.
Frequently asked questions about achieving cost savings with smart product engineering
Although it requires an investment in hours, this pays for itself quickly. The savings on material costs, cycle time, and assembly are structural. Over the total lifespan of a product, engineering is a cost-saving item.
Certainly, a redesign can also offer advantages for ongoing products. Sometimes even a small adjustment to the design can lead to weight savings. We would be happy to analyse whether your current products can be manufactured more efficiently.
No, quite the opposite. A well-thought-out design is often more robust and less susceptible to production errors. By simplifying the process, consistency and therefore quality actually increase.
