How to evaluate DFM and DFA software

Design for manufacturing (DFM) considers how parts will be made. Design for assembly (DFA) considers how those parts will be put together. Software can support a review, but its useful capabilities depend on the product, manufacturing process and information supplied.

Start with the decision

Write down what you need the tool to help you examine: for example, recording assembly concerns, exploring manufacturing options or communicating findings to a supplier. Identify the models, drawings and process information you can provide, along with the decisions that will remain with your engineering and manufacturing teams.

Questions to ask a vendor

1. Which manufacturing processes and assembly questions does the tool actually support?
2. Which CAD formats and versions can it read, and what information might be lost in an import?
3. Does it provide automatic checks, visual review, cost estimates or a way to document findings? Ask which functions are included in the proposed licence.
4. Can the team record assumptions, model revisions and unresolved questions alongside the results?
5. Can findings be shared in a format the engineer and manufacturer can use?
6. What is included in the trial, training, support and total price? Confirm the terms directly with the vendor.

Test with a representative task

Where permitted, use a non-confidential sample or an approved model. Ask the same questions of each candidate and record what each result depends on. A demonstration on one part is useful evidence for that task; it is not proof that the tool covers every process or product.

What still needs human review?

An automated result depends on its rules, inputs and assumptions. Review findings against the actual requirements and discuss manufacturing constraints with the intended supplier. A software result or design review does not itself establish manufacturer approval, certification or physical test performance.

Sources: Autodesk: design for manufacturing software; AVIX: assembly and manufacturing software. These are vendor descriptions, not independent product rankings or endorsements. See also We Master Design's DFM/DFA review service.