Design for manufacturing and assembly are two closely related terms in the manufacturing space. Design for Manufacturing (DFM) refers to optimizing a product design for specific manufacturing processes. Design for assembly (DFA or DFMA) is to optimize the product parts design in order to meet both its manufacturing and assembly requirements.
The basic principle is quite simple.
When the product design has been optimized to match its manufacturing and assembly processes, the remaining procedures left to optimize the post-production design have already been done.
Standardized designs can reduce inventory requirements. Therefore, it will cut spending as long as the exact dimensions and budget needed for the manufacturing are met. F.E. for prototypes, standardization can make it easier for designs and models to be created.
Design for manufacturing ensures that your manufacturing part is as close as it can be to its specification. When using standardized parts, there will almost always be a need for few corrections.
Depending on the manufacturing technology used, simpler designs can mean less time assembling them. Which can be reflected in lower labor and production costs.
Designing for manufacturing means using a standardized design approach that can cut about half of the manufacturing costs because its involves heavily investments in labor and material. When DFM is used these are greatly reduced.
