CONCEPT SCREENING & SCORING
The purpose of this exercise is to become familiar with techniques for design decision making, become familiar with a structured method to screen and score design concepts, and to perform concept screening and scoring methods with AEV design concepts using the sample AEV as a baseline reference.
Concept Screening is a quick method to eliminate ideas based on the criteria the team decides should hold precedence. The Concept Screening criteria team J chose are stability, durability, safety, cost and weight, as shown below (click to enlarge).
Looking at each design, Schwegler’s was stable and light, but was not very durable or cheap. Joe’s design was incredibly durable but was expensive, unsafe, and heavy. Terra’s was not stable, durable, or safe, but was very light also making it less costly. Kroger’s design was stable and durable, but not cheap or lightweight.
Concept Scoring is used to provide weighted criteria in order to determine what design is most appropriate for unique circumstances and context. Team J chose to put the the criteria in the following order from highest to lowest importance: weight; stability, safety, and cost; then durability, as shown below (click to enlarge).
Schwegler’s stable but expensive design earned a 2.8, Joe’s durable but heavy design earned a 2.25, Terra’s lightweight design earned a 2.7, and Kroger’s stable and durable design earned a 2.9.
Since Schwegler’s and Kroger’s designs scored highest in the concept screening and the concept scoring, team J resorted to create an AEV that would incorporate the pros of both designs.