Hi

I would like to ask a question with regards to a DFM analysis. My basic understanding of a DFM analysis is just so show the manufacturability of a part. It can also be used to optimize a design so that the manufacturing process is easily done.(please do correct me if am wrong). My question is can one use an analysis provided by a manufacturer as a measure of there capability i.e can it be used to gauge that a manufacturer is worth pursuing to produce a part.  

Sure it can.. Anything can.. However
I find DFM analysis to be the job of the engineer who designed the part in the first place. An engineer who doesn't think about the manufacturing aspects of a product heavily during the whole design phase is one I would consider a bad engineer.


 

It might give useful information, if they can give useful feed back on how manufacturing costs for a part you want them to make can be reduced then they may well be someone you want to work with as a partner.

However, it's only one amongst a host of other concerns, shouldn't be the only thing you look at.

As mcgyver mentions, DFM needs to be addressed from the start, as the engineers designing it will be more familiar with function and should have a better idea of functional trade offs V manufacturing cost so they can be incorporated earlier in the design process.  However, getting input from experts in the manufacturing process can be invaluable - especially for processes the design engineer isn't highly familiar with.