Glossary
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
The practice of designing parts and assemblies to be manufactured as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Definition
What is Design for Manufacturing (DFM)?
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is the engineering discipline of reviewing and optimizing part and assembly designs before production to ensure they can be made efficiently with available processes, minimize scrap and rework, and achieve the required quality at the lowest possible cost. In sheet metal fabrication, DFM review addresses issues such as minimum bend radii, hole-to-bend clearances, weld access, material utilization, tooling compatibility, and assembly sequence. ATS Metal Fabrication's in-house engineering team provides DFM review as part of the quoting and pre-production process — identifying and resolving potential manufacturing issues before the first part is cut.
Common Applications
- • Sheet metal component optimization
- • Weld assembly design review
- • Tolerance stack-up analysis
- • Material and gauge selection
- • Process sequence optimization
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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