
Design for Automation (DfA): How the Design Stage Makes or Breaks Automation
Forj Medical’s Senior Director of Engineering for Automation and Molding, Kelly Peterson, recently authored an article on Design for Automation in Today’s Medical Developments.
Peterson addressed the critical distinction between Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Automation in the article, explaining that designs easy for humans to assemble aren’t necessarily easy for robots, which can force late-stage redesigns and costly delays.
Peterson also outlined five key DfA considerations for the design stage, emphasizing that automation readiness at the earliest stages reduces production risk, accelerates time to market, and improves cost and quality at scale.