DT theory paper

Continuous improvement

Ongoing testing, evaluating, and improving a product to make it better over time.

Lean manufacturing

Producing goods efficiently by reducing waste, saving time, and using fewer resources.

planned obsolescence

Designing a product to have a limited lifespan so it needs replacing sooner.

Inclusive design

Designing products to be usable by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.

• Adjustable sizes

• simple controls

• ergonomic shapes

modern material

Materials developed recently to improve performance, often lighter, stronger, or more durable.

• CF

• Titanium

• PLA

• Kevlar

smart materials

Materials that change properties in response to stimuli like heat, light, electricity. In a controllable and reversible way.

• Shape Memory Alloys

• Piezoelectric Materials

• Self healing polymers

Manufacturing production techniques

• Mass production

• Batch production

• Continuous production

• JIT production

• Job production

Job production

Custom production designed to meet specific customer orders, producing one item at a time.

Mass production

High volume standardised products using automation

Batch production

Producing a set number of identical items

Continuous production

24/7 uninterrupted manufacturing. often used for items like chemicals and beverages

JIT production

Materials are delivered immediately before they are needed, reducing storage costs and waste.

Automated Production Technologies

• CAM: Utilizing CAD data to control machinery such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and milling machines.

• Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS): A series of automated machines that can be reprogrammed to switch between different production tasks, enhancing adaptability.

Plastic deformation

• Permanent, irreversible change in shape that occurs when a material is stressed beyond its elastic limit

• causing it to remain deformed after loading

Elastic deformation

temporary, reversible change in shape where a material returns to its original form once a load is removed

material hardness

resistance to localised plastic deformation, such as denting, scratching, abrasion, or cutting.

material strength

• The ability to withstand internal forces without failure (breaking, bending, or deforming)

• It measures the maximum load a material can take.