1. Unit 2: Engineering Design Process
Foundations of Technology
Unit 2: Engineering Design Process
Lesson 1: Collecting and Processing Information
Collecting and Processing Information

2. The Big Idea
Big Idea:
Computers assist in organizing and analyzing data used in the Engineering Design Process.

3. Rationale
Engineers use mathematical equations as tools to help them create technical solutions, structures, and products to meet the needs and desires of society.
Throughout the Foundations of Technology course, students will apply mathematics to solve practical problems and work through design challenges.
The Pythagorean Theorem is an excellent place to start because it applies simple logic and basic algebra.

4. Why Do We Need Data?
Data are used throughout the Engineering Design Process to optimize designs and improve efficiency during production.
Statistics refer to the collection and organization of data (science) as well as the analysis and presentation of those data (mathematics).

5. Why Do We Need Data?
Statistics are often evaluated using the assistance of computers and software such as Microsoft Excel.
Such tools allow the user to easily access, collect, organize, maintain, manipulate, and interpret data – which helps to improve efficiency.

6. Basic Statistics
Basic statistics in engineering include the following terms:
Mean – the average of a given data set.
Median – the middle number in a given ordered data set.
Mode – the most frequently occurring number in a given data set.

7. Basic Statistics
Basic statistics in engineering include the following terms:
Standard Deviation – how much variation exists from the average (mean) in a given data set.
Range –the distribution of the data set or the difference between the largest and smallest values.

8. Basic Statistics
Tolerance or the amount a characteristic (product/part/dimension/etc…) can vary without compromising (affecting) the overall function or design of the product, greatly influences the basic statistics used in manufacturing.

9. Basic Statistics
Basic tolerance terms in manufacturing include the following:
Normal size – the size used in the general description of a part/product.
Basic size – the converted normal size (fraction to decimal) that can produce some deviation.

10. Basic Statistics
Basic tolerance terms in manufacturing include the following:
Upper Specification Limit – the highest acceptable deviation or value for a characteristic.
Lower Specification Limit – the lowest acceptable deviation or value for a characteristic.