Design methods applied to the selection of a rapid prototyping resource

The paper is divided into two main sections. We first introduce the problematic and discuss about the interest of implementing a concurrent engineering approach. We focus on the relevant rapid prototyping techniques likely to be used in order to make the design and production processes more reliable. In the second chapter we describe in generic terms the advantage of using QFD method as a decision making tool. The practical case study chosen is related to the selection of a prototyping resource. Afrer having identijied the functions to be fuEfilled by the rapid prototyping resource, a technology deployment matrix is built and the principles leading to the results are commented