AI in Design: Coming Full Circle

As a Generation X engineer, I’ve witnessed remarkable shifts in how we approach design engineering.

Recently, I saw an article suggesting Gen X is frustrated because the skills we learned early in our careers no longer apply in today’s technological landscape. This characterization made me pause and reflect. While our tools have certainly evolved dramatically, I believe we’re experiencing something more nuanced than obsolescence.

With AI in design, we’re coming full circle, with artificial intelligence and machine learning enhancing rather than replacing the fundamental skills we developed.

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5 Aspects of Good Reliability Goals and Requirements

Good reliability requirements are going to drive our design decisions relating to the concept, the components, the materials, and other stuff. So, the moment to start defining reliability requirements is early in the design process. But, what makes a well-defined reliability requirement? There are five aspects it should cover: do you know what they are? 

We’ll describe what makes a good reliability requirement and examples of common (but not good) requirements.

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Supplier Agreements: The Good, The Bad, and The Quality

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing landscape, the link between product quality and supplier agreements is more critical than ever.

Custom product development can be complex, and regarding suppliers, we can uncover hidden challenges. These come up when suppliers are not aligned with the quality standards necessary for our products to be successful.

Join us as we discuss various types of supplier agreements commonly encountered in new product launches. They are important, but do they have what you need to ensure quality?

Tune in to learn how to transform your supplier partnerships into an invaluable asset in your quest for quality excellence.

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Practice Makes Improvement in Subjective Probability Estimations

Does the phrase “Subjective Probability Estimation” make you feel uncomfortable? If you’re a data-driven professional, you’re likely wary of each of those terms on their own, let alone combining them into one thing.

But we sometimes need to do it. And we can practice to get better at it.

In this episode, we emphasize the importance of subjective probability estimations in decision-making, especially in situations where concrete data may be unavailable or impractical.

We talk about:

• Exploring the discomfort of subjective probability estimations
• Utilizing Monte Carlo simulations for complex systems analysis
• Addressing bias and improving estimation accuracy

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Quality Tools are Legos of Development (and Their 7 Uses)

How are quality tools Legos of development?

We talk about two philosophies of brick building and our use of the family of quality tools.

We also talk about seven uses of quality tools in product development.

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Cultivating a Culture of Craftsmanship within Quality Systems

Tradespeople bring expertise, innovation, high quality, and leadership to product development. If we’re lucky enough to be able to work with them, they’re an invaluable part of the engineering team.

What about when we’re working without them? How can we create a culture of craftsmanship in a company that uses a quality system?

In this episode, we talk about the crafts’ and trades’ relationship with quality systems, and steps toward creating a culture of craftsmanship.

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The Mighty Power of Mini Reports

When you perform analysis and share it with others to make a decision, do you sometimes just send the file with a blurb in an email? Only to not quite remember what you did later, when you need it most.

There’s a simple, relatively fast thing to do: a Mini Report. And it provides so much more than just jogging a memory.

Mini reports are a valuable tool for communication in engineering. By using them, engineers can enhance team collaboration, streamline decision-making, and provide mentorship opportunities to junior colleagues.

We talk about:

• Importance of maintaining records for future reference
• How mini reports improve team communication
• Elements every mini report should contain
• Benefits of organized documentation for teams
• Role of mini reports in mentoring junior engineers
• Potential for using mini reports in professional presentations

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Celebrating a Year of Insights

Celebrating a year of insights and community growth, this episode reflects on key moments, popular episodes, and the future direction of the Quality During Design podcast.

2024 included episodes focused on actionable insights, deep-dive series, expert interviews, and insightful book reviews.

With gratitude for listeners and a commitment to quality, we look ahead to new topics and collaborations for 2025.

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Social Dynamics with Yakira Mirabito (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)

Dianna Deeney interviews Yakira Mirabito about social dynamics within engineering and how it affects decision making. The episode focuses on improving design reviews and making them more inclusive.

Yakira explains how things like personalities and power dynamics can really affect decisions made by design teams. She gives advice to engineers on how to prepare for these reviews, such as how to give presentations effectively and encourage helpful feedback from team members. She also highlights useful tools, like the “Identity Wheel,” to help people understand each other’s backgrounds and avoid biases when making decisions. The episode is a great resource for anyone who wants to improve teamwork and create better products!

This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts”. Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they’re involved and work with product design engineering teammates.

About Yakira

Yakira Mirabito is a postdoctoral researcher at MIT whose work falls within design theory and engineering management. Her research examines how sociotechnical factors influence design decisions using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Her research interests include design behavior, cognitive biases, and social dynamics within engineering contexts. Yakira’s work enhances current design methods and tools, empowering engineers to build more innovative and equitable systems. She received her BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and her MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Yakira and Dianna talk about

• how social dynamics, cognitive biases, and power structures can influence engineering design reviews and decision-making processes.
• recommendations for improving design review meetings through clear communication, inclusive facilitation techniques, and a focus on giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• the need for engineers to develop self-awareness, particularly regarding their own biases and how their identities shape their interactions within teams.
• how to effectively navigate feedback, especially from superiors, and the importance of justifying design decisions using evidence, requirements, and user needs.
• the importance of democratic and inclusive design processes that value the diverse perspectives of all team members, including end users, and recognize the influence of power dynamics.

Yakira’s suggestions involve awareness and evaluating our decision making, including stopping to consider if the feedback we want to accept really links back to the objective results of our projects.

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How Engineers Changed Thanksgiving

Have you ever stopped to consider the engineering marvels that make festive meals like Thanksgiving possible? Engineering has played a crucial role in ensuring we can enjoy fresh-tasting vegetables and perfectly preserved foods all year round.

Beyond the realm of food preservation, this episode serves as a tribute to the unsung heroes of our holiday tables: engineers. These individuals are responsible for the seamless functioning of everyday items that enhance our lives. By shedding light on these engineering feats, we hope to inspire a greater appreciation for the engineering community’s contributions to making life safer, easier, and more enjoyable.

As a fellow engineer, I am proud to be part of a profession that has such a profound impact on the world. By sharing stories of innovation and success, we can foster a deeper understanding of the vital role engineers play in shaping our daily experiences. Whether it’s through the development of new technologies or the improvement of existing processes, engineers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, ensuring that our holiday feasts are as delicious, healthy, and convenient as ever.

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Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, AI, and VR in Design Engineering

Discover how predictive analytics, machine learning, AI (artificial intelligence), and VR (virtual reality) reshape some of the ways we approach design. In this episode, we journey from the origins of predictive analytics to the convergence of big data, IoT, digital twins and more, paving the way for innovative product development. We’ll also discuss the potential of virtual reality to enhance collaboration and communication within design processes.

This episode isn’t just about embracing the latest tech trends; it’s about knowing when simpler solutions will suffice and the critical role of data stewardship. This overview will help you to understand the big picture of where these tools fit into your design process. Listen-in so you can better choose when to use them to optimize your design engineering endeavors, or not.

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Improving Communication and the Workplace with Meagan Pollock (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)

Communication challenges in engineering? Dianna Deeney interviews Dr. Meagan Pollock about improving communication and the workplace. They explore how improving communication within cross-functional teams involves active listening, continuous learning, and adapting communication styles to create a more inclusive and productive environment.

This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts”.

About Meagan

Dr. Meagan Pollock began her career playing with light projection on tiny, microscopic mirrors as an engineer for Texas Instruments. Through her company, Engineer Inclusion and Engineered Organizations, she now utilizes metaphorical projectors and mirrors to shine a light on micro and macro social systems that, when adjusted, improve student and employee success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A TEDx speaker, author, and a past recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Meagan holds a PhD in engineering education from Purdue University, an MS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University, and a BS in computer science from Texas Woman’s University. As an engineer turned educator, Meagan focuses on helping others intentionally engineer inclusion® in education and the workforce.

Meagan and Dianna talk about

Diversity Drives Better Outcomes: Diverse teams consistently demonstrate improved results, leading to better design, products, and market success. However, Dr. Pollock’s driving motivation extends beyond the business case, emphasizing the ethical imperative to create environments where everyone feels valued and can contribute their best.

High-Performing Teams Prioritize Communication: Dr. Pollock cites research from Ron Friedman (Insight 80/Harvard Business Review) revealing that high-performing teams consistently engage in communication-driven practices like bonding, authenticity, appreciation, collaboration, and proactive conflict resolution.

Communication Styles are Shaped by Diverse Factors: Individual communication styles are influenced by personality, culture, upbringing, education, and lived experiences. Recognizing these differences is crucial for effective communication within diverse teams.

The Role of AI in Communication: While AI tools can aid in refining written communication, Dr. Pollock cautions that human awareness and skill are still essential to address the nuances of high-context vs. low-context communication styles.

Continuous Growth and Expansion: Dr. Pollock encourages professionals to actively seek out opportunities for continuous learning and exposure to diverse viewpoints through conferences, podcasts, social media, and interactions with individuals from different backgrounds.

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Myths of Product Development – Part 2

There are myths of product development that Quality can help with.

In the previous Part 1, we talked about how we cannot treat the product development process like a manufacturing process. But, there are ways we can apply Quality to the product development process without doing this. Quality can help with early concept development, to evaluate data, and to manage teamwork.

Listen to this Part 2 as we continue to unpack Harvard Business Review’s “The Six Myths of Product Development” by Stefan Thomke and Donald Reinersten. We review the final three of the six myths in the article, revealing the misconceptions around timing development cycles, getting things right the first time, and adding many features.

Discover how quality thinking and systems approaches not only enhances collaboration but also improves user experience from the ground up. By integrating insights from the concept phase, teams can make more informed and strategic decisions throughout the development lifecycle.

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Myths of Product Development – Part 1

There are myths of product development that Quality can help with.

How do we integrate quality with product development? Using quality tools and techniques early in the design phase can lead to more successful outcomes. But we cannot do it by treating the product development process like a manufacturing process.

Listen to this Part 1 as we unpack Harvard Business Review’s “The Six Myths of Product Development” by Stefan Thomke and Donald Reinersten. We review three of the six myths in the article, revealing the misconceptions around resource allocation, batch processing, and rigid development plans.

Join us as we review why treating a product development process like a manufacturing process is riddled with pitfalls. The reasons why it doesn’t work provides us understanding to what we CAN use quality tools and techniques to do to improve product development.

This is Part 1. Tune into the next episode for Part 2, where we will review the remaining three myths of product development.

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Engineering Careers: A Panel Discussion with ‘Brilliant!’ and ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’’

Join Steven Giako and Dianna Deeney in a panel discussion of central themes in the books Brilliant! Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology and How to Win Friends and Influence People.

How do these two books relate with one another, and what lessons can be learned by combining and contrasting their messages? How can the story in Brilliant! relate to the advice given in How to Win Friends and Influence People? What are potential lessons learned for engineers today who are leading in the edges of innovation?

The reviewers explore these two books together by combining common themes for discussion points and add their own experiences from their engineering careers. Their goals are to link literature to current-day challenges and for participants to:

• Gain different perspectives, both from literature and from the reviewers.
• Get inspired toward action: to try something new, read one of the books, or make new connections with others.
• Inspire others in their engineering work.

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