AEV Design Concepts – Screening and Scoring

This lab looked at concept screening and concept scoring.  Both these tools can be used to evaluate the positives and negatives of a product.  In our case, these techniques will be used to judge each AEV design from lab 4 based on a set of criteria. Values will be assigned to qualities of balance, power usage, weight, and cost.  The AEV will be run on the test track to obtain baseline values to be used in the screening and scoring tables.  First, concept screening will be used.  Concept screening is a quick, qualitative look at each model.  Concept screening uses a baseline design to then compare each other design to.  Each design is given a +, -, or 0 for each of the criteria.  A positive meaning the design is better than the baseline in that regard, a minus meaning worse, and a 0 meaning equal.  this technique is best used to quickly screen multiple designs, and determine which merit further testing.

Concept scoring is a more in depth comparison than concept screening.  Scoring involves quantitative values.  Each quality is given a weight based on its importance, a more important quality will have a higher weight.  Each design is then given a rating between one and five.  The rating is adjusted based on its weight, and then the scores are totaled to give each design a final score.  The design with the highest score is considered the best design and will be assembled.