Case Study in Systematic Design Engineering: Automotive Oil Pump Redesign

Students learning design engineering at times need a good example of procedure for design engineering, both for novel problems and for redesign. The systematic heuristic-strategic use of a theory to guide the design process — Engineering Design Science — and the methodical design process followed in this case study is only necessary in limited situations. The full procedure should be learned, such that the student can select appropriate parts for other applications. Creativity is usually characterized by a wide search for solutions, especially those that are innovative. The search can be helped by this systematic and methodical approach. This case example is presented to show application of the recommended method for redesign, and the expected scope of the output, with emphasis on the stages of conceptualizing. The case follows a redesign problem of an automotive oil pump.