Evaluate the importance of market research and customer requirements throughout the design process.

Evaluation should include

• market research and product development
• clear communication with consumers before and after product development
• consumer feedback that will continue the design process and future product development
• designs that meet consumer demands while maintaining low production costs and over-engineering
• development of processes based on design constraints rather than machine limitations.

Process/Skill Questions:

• What are constraints? Why is it important to understand constraints?
• How can customer needs and wants affect the finished product?
• Are models/prototypes flexible enough to fulfill customer requirements? Explain.
• How is a customer requirement best determined? What determines if a customer requirement is successfully met?
• What are some examples of over-engineered products?
• How do manufacturers collect consumer feedback?
• How do consumers and designers communicate product requirements?
• What is the difference between engineering-driven and customer-driven requirements?