Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1233021
12 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2020 Young: I've been lucky to be exposed to quite a bit of stuff. I've worked on product develop- ment from the cradle to the grave in the avion- ics industry, semiconductor and semiconductor test, and developing test systems for space and medical devices, ranging from airborne surveil- lance systems to electromechanical medical de- vices. I've had the pleasure of working with many different people in various industries. Shaughnessy: We have been talking about de- sign for profitability for a couple of years, and we started looking into the whole issue of de- sign economics. In your position, how impor- tant is the cost of what you're doing? Young: Along with the chief technologist, we are primarily responsible for the profitability of the company. The products that I design are directly related to revenue and profit. Shaughnessy: You're looking at the cost from the very beginning of the design cycle? Young: You must. In my career, I have devel- oped a systems view of what's happening, Feature Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team When you start a new design, do you begin tracking costs right away, or do you wait un- til you have a functioning product before you start looking at the dollars and cents? Chris Young begins cost-aware design before the de- sign cycle has even begun. Andy Shaughnessy and Nolan Johnson recently interviewed Chris, an engineer with The Goebel Company and founder of Young Engineering Services, and asked him to explain his approach to design economics. Andy Shaughnessy: Tell us about your position and responsibilities, and we'll go from there. Chris Young: At The Goebel Company, I'm the chief hardware engineer. My primary responsi- bilities are product architecture, design, and de- velopment, which starts from a customer need and progresses into delivery and sustainability. Shaughnessy: You have a pretty wide view of things. A Design Economics Primer Chris Young