Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
(OP)
I would appreciate your opinion. I would also like to know if you work for a small or large company. And I would also like to know if your company is highly regulated (such as medical or aviation) or not. (I am wondering if size or business focus affects the definition a company might have regarding interchangeability.)
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
I currently work at a mid size US company that is not in a highly regulated industry. I have worked in aerospace/defense which was highly regulated.
By "Interchangeablitly" do you mean when refering to whether a change to a part is a rev change or requires a new number?
I suggest looking in ASME Y14.100-2004 or similar standard.
In my experience interchangeability probably wouldn't affect manufacturability, but I'm not totally sure what you mean by that.
Method of manufacture shouldn't normally be an issue unless it affects end function. For instance in many cases a cast or forged version of the same basic part may be entirely interchangeable. However, in some situations a cast part may not have performance equivalent to a forged part so would not be interchangeable, for instance if the 'brittleness' of the cast version caused lower performance than the cast one.
KENAT,
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RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MANUFACTURABILITY do you mean ease of manufacture? I can't see how this is directly linked to interchangeability from a revision point of view. Obviously changes are sometimes made to improve manufacturability, and changes are often reviewed to see if they negatively impact manufacturability. However, when deciding if the change needs a rev or a new part number manufacturability itself doesn't seem to be a consideration.
I will say this, my current employer plays fast and loose with the definition of interchangeability when it suits them to save work, at least in the short term. In Aerospace/Defence while sometimes suggested, this rarely if ever happened.
At least once a product is 'released', i.e. some are in service at the customer etc. then I think the ASME Y14.100 definition should be followed regardless of company size or sector. There may be exceptions but I can't think of compelling ones. I was thinking maybe stand alone items that don't get refurbished or repaired etc. may not require it but even then for legal reasons it may still make sense to follow Y14.100.
KENAT,
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RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
I agree with KENAT. Manufacturability should not be considered when determining interchangeability, unless it affects the function of the part. That said, it is almost always better to strive for economy.
To expand on KENAT's example, manufacturing has a shelf half full of machined widgets and half full of cast widgets, all mixed up. Both types meet their expected functional requirements, and each can be used in place of the other without adversely effecting the final product. Even though the machined widgets cost 4X more to produce than the cast widgets, they are interchangeable.
"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
Mike
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services
www.infotechpr.net
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?
Method of manufacture which several (including I with my forging V casting example) have elluded to, sometimes does effect interchangeability, though not always, or perhaps even most of the time.
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Does "Interchangeability" include manufacturability?