Mechanical engineering design across cultures : a method of designing for cultures

Abstract

approved: Joseph R. Zaworski Mechanical design is often based on formal methodologies such as Quality Function Deployment. Techniques to quantitatively account for attractability, sensory perception, and affective design have been successfully incorporated into these methods and are receiving growing acceptance across many industries. Although the adoption of these methods marks a large improvement for mechanical designers, more advances in design methodology are needed. Recently, mechanical design engineers have run into problems moving designs across cultural boundaries. As mechanical design engineers move forward with creating designs to be sold to culturally different and distinct groups of consumers, methods must be developed to aid in minimizing the number of people who are un-attracted to a product. This thesis proposes one potential method to address cultural factors in the design process. An extensive review of literature on subjects important to the development of techniques for incorporation of cultural considerations into mechanical engineering design methodologies is presented. Cultural methods used in other disciplines are surveyed. Practical advice on avoiding ethnocentrism in engineering design is given. An example of the method proposed in this thesis is developed. The shortcomings and strengths of the proposed method are discussed. The thesis concludes with potential future avenues of research.

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