---
title: "Phases of new product design"
subject: "Machine Design I"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_6/machine_design_i:new-product-design-phases"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/machine_design_i/new-product-design-phases
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Phases of new product design

Machine Design I · Chapter 3: New Product Design

- Asked in: year not given, 8 marks
- Video: [What are the various steps in Product Design Process?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwDs9K_-vqk) — CHALK & BOARD
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/machine_design_i/new-product-design-phases
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/machine_design_i/chapter-3

## Question

Describe the phases of new product design from the feasibility study to the detailed design and analysis. State the purpose and the output of each phase.

## Short answer

New product design proceeds through feasibility study, preliminary design, and detailed design. Feasibility checks viability; preliminary design selects the best concept and layout; detailed design defines every part with analysis and prototyping, followed by planning for manufacture, distribution, use and retirement.

## Answer

New product design proceeds through a series of phases, each ending with a review and a go/no-go decision. This avoids spending money on an idea that cannot succeed.

```text
 Feasibility study
        |
 Preliminary design
        |
 Detailed design & analysis
        |
 Planning for manufacture, distribution,
 use and retirement
```

#### 1. Feasibility study

Purpose: to find out whether the product is worth developing.

- Is the need real? Market size, customer opinion, competitor products.
- Is it technically possible with present knowledge and materials?
- Is it economically viable (estimated cost, selling price, return on investment)?
- Is it legally and socially acceptable (safety, standards, environment)?

Output: a short feasibility report with the main concepts and the decision to proceed or stop.

#### 2. Preliminary design

Purpose: to select the best concept and fix the overall layout.

- Alternative concepts are generated and sketched.
- Approximate calculations are done for power, size, major forces and cost.
- Concepts are compared (decision matrix) and the best one is chosen.
- Critical risks are identified and tested with simple models or mock-ups.

Output: layout drawings, main dimensions, a list of major components and materials, and cost estimate.

#### 3. Detailed design and analysis

Purpose: to define every part completely so that it can be made.

- Stress, deflection, fatigue, wear and thermal analysis of each part; selection of standard components such as bearings, belts and fasteners.
- Material, tolerance, fit and surface finish for each part.
- Prototype building and testing; the design is modified from test results.

Output: complete working drawings, bill of materials, design calculations and test reports.

#### 4. Later planning phases

After the detailed design the team plans manufacture (process selection, tooling, quality control), distribution and use (packaging, transport, installation, manual, service) and retirement (disposal and recycling). Considering these early keeps the design economical to produce and responsible to dispose of.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the purpose of the feasibility study?
   A. To find out whether the product is worth developing (need, technical, economic and legal viability)
   B. To produce working drawings
   C. To select bearings and fasteners
   D. To plan disposal of the product
   Answer: A. It ends in a go/no-go decision. (Key point: Feasibility purpose)

2. What is the output of the feasibility study?
   A. Complete working drawings
   B. A short report with main concepts and a decision to proceed or stop
   C. A bill of materials with tolerances
   D. Test reports of the prototype
   Answer: B. Detailed outputs come later. (Key point: Feasibility output)

3. What does the preliminary design phase deliver?
   A. Final tolerances for every part
   B. Instruction manual
   C. Layout drawings, main dimensions, major components and materials, and cost estimate
   D. Recycling plan
   Answer: C. It selects the best concept and fixes the overall layout. (Key point: Preliminary design)

4. Which output belongs to the detailed design and analysis phase?
   A. A market-size survey
   B. A rough sketch of concepts
   C. Packaging design
   D. Complete working drawings, bill of materials, calculations and test reports
   Answer: D. Every part is defined completely so it can be made. (Key point: Detailed design)

## Related in Machine Design I

- [Steps in the design and synthesis process](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fmachine_design_i%3Adesign-process-steps) — Machine Design I, chapter 1
- [Planning for manufacture, distribution and retirement](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fmachine_design_i%3Amanufacture-distribution-retirement-planning) — Machine Design I, chapter 3

## Related in other subjects

- [Development phases; pre-feasibility factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Adev-phases-prefeasibility-factors) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2
- [Feasibility study and its types](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fsoftware_engineering%3Afeasibility-study) — Software Engineering, chapter 1
- [Case study: plan, feasibility and ROI](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Acs-2075chaitra) — Instrumentation II, chapter 10
- [Case study: feasibility, drawbacks, convincing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Acs-2072kartik-feasibility) — Instrumentation II, chapter 10