Engineering Design Process Problem Statement & Brainstorming

A method of linking different ideas together by finding commonalities between them. To use this method, the design team lists ideas, in a way similar to the free association approach by writing any ideas that come to mind in an area visible to all members of the design team.

• Free Association

• Future Process

• Freewriting

• Brainstorming Web

An unknown quantity or something that needs to be changed in a situation.

• Specific Constraints

• Common Constraints

• Problem

• Free Association

Conditions that are in all engineering design process.

• Brainstorming Web

• Common Constraints

• Specific Constraints

• Free Association

Engineers intentionally focus on solutions that are not possible yet because of technological or scientific limitations. The purpose of this process is for engineers to find the ideal list of solutions without limiting themselves to current ways to produce or manufacture the solution.

• Freewriting

• Free Association

• Brainstorming Web

• Future Process

Relies heavily on the ability to brainstorm without being critical of ideas.

• Free Association

• Specific Constraints

• Freewriting

• Brainstorming Web

The statement should address who will be using and who will be impacted by the solution.

• Steps to Define the Problem

• Free Association

• Who is the problem solution for?

• Specific Constraints

1. Determine the problem's origin.

2. Define what is and what is not the problem.

3. Identify the present state and desired state of each component in the problem.

4. State the problem in your own words.

• Specific Constraints

• Future Process

• Steps to Define the Problem

• Brainstorming Web

An individual brainstorming technique in which an engineer generates possible ideas by writing them down.This process is usually a timed approach and forces engineers to describe their thoughts in writing, which can help them clarify ideas.

• Freewriting

• Future Process

• Brainstorming Web

• Free Association

Conditions that are directly related to the engineering design problem at hand.

• Common Constraints

• Specific Constraints

• Free Association

• Steps to Define the Problem

potential solutions

• Common Constraints

• Brainstorming Web

• What should not be included in the problem statement?

• Free Association