Product Development

This book explores the evolution of products from the beginning idea through mass-production. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all process, the authors explain the theory behind product development and challenge readers to develop their own customized development process uniquely suited for their individual situation. In addition to theory, the book provides development case studies, exercises and self-evaluation criteria at the end of each chapter, and a product development reference that introduces a wide variety of design tools and methods. Class-tested for three consecutive years by hundreds of students in four different courses, the book is an ideal text for senior design classes in mechanical engineering and related disciplines as well as a reference for practicing engineers/product designers.

Christopher A. Mattson is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering directs BYU's Design Exploration Research Group, which is focused on creating design tools and method that assist engineers in developing products that have the greatest possible benefit to humanity. He is an inventor on multiple patents, and he has authored dozens of journal publications on the topics of design and optimization. He is an NSF CAREER awardee and a Fulbright Scholar, and was given a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) by President Obama in 2011. He is the recipient of ASME's 2015 Ben C. Sparks award for his educational work in building a strong senior design experience for BYU students.

Carl D. Sorensen is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University. He founded the Capstone Design Program at BYU in 1989 and has taught the class more than 20 times in the ensuing years. He has also coached approximately 20 Capstone teams on their projects. He has developed design curriculum at BYU and at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, in Kanazawa, Japan. He has twice been a finalist in the Boeing Outstanding Engineering Educator competition, and is the recipient of the Ben C. Sparks medal awarded by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.