Choosing the Right Manufacturing Process
- Jul 24
- 1 min read
The informal Manufacturing Methods Database is a filterable tool that helps designers compare production processes using material, geometry, design confidence, appearance, speed, tooling costs and part costs.
Created by hardware and hardtech collective informal, the database was introduced by Sam Holland after an attempted manufacturing flowchart became too complex. It currently brings together 17 commonly used methods.
Why I saved this: I like how it turns manufacturing selection from a list of processes into a decision shaped by context, quantity, cost and confidence in the design. For design students, it reinforces that the best process is not automatically the most advanced one. A prototype and a final product may need very different manufacturing routes.
Worth considering: Are you selecting a process because it suits the design, or because it is familiar?
Try applying it: Enter the requirements for one current component and compare the suggested methods.
Design themes: Manufacturing, materials selection, prototyping, design for manufacture, product development
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