Abstract
Despite the availability of numerous "Design for X (DfX)" concepts/methods, their application is challenging for two reasons: • because methods have been developed with different foci (e.g., manufacturing vs. quality), it is difficult to know how different methods complement each other • in what sequence and where at the design stage they should be applied. We address this challenge with a review of DfX methods with recommended design stages for their use from the published literature. We also provide a thematic clustering for their application along with a maturity index for each DfX concept. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.