1. Tutorial #4 Problem Formulation Instructor: Dr. Raja Rizwan Hussain
Course: GE 105 Introduction to Engineering Design
College of Engineering, King Saud University

2. Steps Start from Need Analysis
Establish needed information (Pre-design phase)
Start from Need Analysis
Find the primary objective (and if possible, secondary objective)
Set your Constraints
Choose your Criteria
Put as a problem statement

3. Question 1
The needs analysis starts with a simple primitive statement and concludes with a clear definition of all that is involved.
Formulate the problem to be tackled in each case if you are given the following primitive statements:
The demand for electric power where we live is doubling every 10 years (for example)
The agricultural area needs to be watered.
The demand of fossil fuel is increased every year.
Massive rapid transportation for metropolitan city to reduce traffic jam

4. The demand for electric power where we live is doubling every 10 years
We can do some of survey or research by asking these question:
What makes the electricity demand being doubled?
Why is it increasing?
Where is the most demanding site for electricity?
Who will provide the electric supply if its doubling?
When exactly will the doubling happen?

5. Question 2
Design a device for securing a coffee cup near the driver's seat of an automobile. The device should prevent the cup from spilling and should not interfere with the proper operation of the car. It should be universally adaptable to a wide variety of vehicles:
Specify the needed information to be gathered.
Establish need.
Set up the objective (primary and secondary)
Set up constraints (limitation)
Criteria for successful design, and
Define the problem

6. Needed Information Average amount of coffee in cup.
Average coffee cup size and weight.
Coffee cup material.
General car interior layout/design.
Temperature inside the car (max/min).
Available relevant holder design in the market.

7. Need Analysis Locking system to prevent the cup from spilling.
Coffee cup holder for car (near the driver seat).
Locking system to prevent the cup from spilling.
Do not interfere with proper operation of the car.
Adaptable to a wide variety of vehicles.
Detachable (Designed to be unfastened or disconnected without damage)
Easy to use.
Durable material for various temperatures.
No need to modify car interior.
Cost not exceed 100 SR
Flexibility of coffee cup size

8. Design Objective Secondary Objective: The device should detachable.
Primary Objective:
Design a device for securing a coffee cup near the driver’s seat of an automobile that preventing the cup from spilling, not interfering with the proper operation of the car and adaptable to a wide variety of vehicle.
Secondary Objective:
The device should detachable.
Plug and use, no interior modification needed.

9. Constraints Spill free Does not interfere with the driver operation
Size max. 200 x 150 x 150 mm (HxWxL)
Weight does not exceed 2 kg
Cost does not exceed 100 SR
1 year minimum life.

10. Evaluation Criteria (for successful design)
Simplicity
Easy to install and dispatch
No harm to the interior
Low cost
Durable