Conclusion

Abstract

The preceding chapters have dealt with various methods and approaches that may be helpful in conceptual design problems. Some of these, like the combinative studies of Chapter 2, are of general application. Others, like the identification and treatment of generic types of problems such as matching (Chapter 5) and disposition (Chapter 6), are only of use in special cases; nevertheless, as the list of topics in Chapter 5 will show, the special cases are so frequent that the approach is of great value. The insight-developing techniques of Chapter 4 are strongly recommended, and the writer believes that the investment of time in such exercises will be amply repaid in better designs more expeditiously arrived at. The advantages of rough calculation of orders of magnitude and ‘quick sums’ in particular cannot be over-emphasised; the optimisations dealt with in Chapter 3 are of this sketchy sort. The space available would not allow of fuller treatments, but in any case these simpler exercises yield perhaps nine-tenths of the possible benefits at a few per cent of the cost. Of course, the heavy calculations that fetch in the remaining tenth are still very worthwhile whenever the sums of money to be spent are large.