Product benchmarking using DFE analysis tools

Product benchmarking is carried out in industry as a means of comparing products with those of competing companies and as a means of gauging improvements in new designs. Design decision support tools, such as those for QFD, FMEA and DFMA, are often used for generating comparative data for benchmarking purposes. The availability of analysis tools for design for environment (DFE) enables environmental and disassembly measures to be included in product benchmarking studies. The application of a specific DFE tool to benchmarking is discussed and results for some selected products are presented.