Abstract
This Manufacturing Insights report describes the growing critical role
mechatronic systems serve in a wide range of industries and products. The
report details the unique challenges of mechatronics engineering and why many
manufacturing companies are not optimally positioned for efficient and
effective product development. Mechatronic systems - the synergetic integration
of mechanical engineering, electronics, and computational power into integrated
electromechanical devices - are gradually replacing mechanical and
electromechanical devices and are serving an increased role in many products
and systems.
"Many manufacturing companies consider mechatronic development simply as the
merger of several engineering disciplines with which they may be very
familiar," says Joe Barkai, program director at Manufacturing Insights.
"Although mechatronics is indeed an amalgamation of well-established
disciplines, it is the convergence of these very familiar practices with new
and emerging market forces that presents engineering and product development
challenges."
According to Barkai, "Companies that have traditionally excelled in one or two
of the engineering disciplines involved in mechatronics are often challenged by
the need to synchronize the development cycles of fundamentally different
disciplines and integrate them into a single system. Manufacturers need to
recognize that mechatronics is not simply an amalgamation of known engineering
disciplines and practices and consider a new product development process for
mechatronics product life-cycle management."
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