An engineering process is an order of operations that engineers often follow to solve problems. It is highly iterative, and certain aspects of the process may be repeated multiple times within the same project. The steps may be framed and articulated differently.
The first step is to conduct research. This includes locating data about needs, identifying them and understanding the limitations. It is a critical part of the engineering design process as it allows engineers to discover the most effective solution for the given problem.
Once the researchers have gathered enough data they can begin to brainstorm solutions to the issue. This can be done in a number of ways, and is the area where engineering creativity really flourishes. This is also a stage where the potential solutions are examined and evaluated. This could include simulation studies, creating decision matrixes and even making prototypes to test.
In this step students choose one of their top ideas and devise a plan to implement it. They then build the prototype using the specified materials and then test it against their own performance criteria. Students may need to retest and revise their prototype to ensure that it performs in the way they intended.
This is a great way to demonstrate the importance of problem-solving and iteration. It is very common for engineers to come up with an idea, test it and then identify the next problem they need to check it out tackle. The process is repeated until the engineer can come up with an answer that matches their expectations.