QFD Analysis and Conceptual Design of a new Machining Centre for a particular application field

The present paper deals with the application of the conceptual design methodology to the development of a machining centre with a novel layout. This research was performed in a strict collaboration with an industry, IGMI-Giuliani S.pA located near Bologna (Italy), exporting machining centres all over the world. The study was firstly aimed at a detailed analysis of the technical and economic trend in the field of manufacturing devices. Then, a particular field of application, i.e. a market niche, for the development of a new machining centre was determined. Meanwhile a novel layout and technical features of the new machine were investigated and developed. The current study was approached by the application of the QFD and conceptual design methodologies and of the TCM technique for final cost analysis.