| | 9CIOReviewDECEMBER 2021 Improving joint design to accommodate applied stress offer a soft, compliant material with excellent sealing properties. These can be used as a gasket in a design intended to be opened and re-closed or for sealing and bonding a permanent assembly.The product designer is a key member of the ecosystem to create a beautiful, strong design. Instead of simply replacing fasteners, optimal adhesive designs follow these three rules:1. Design structural joints so that all the bonded area equally shares the load.2. Design joint configuration so that the basic stress is primarily shear, tensile, or compressive with cleavage and peels minimized.3. Consider robotic access to the bond-line and processing steps.Skilled designers seek support from ecosystem members. Partners can offer a clear understanding of the adhesive and process capabilities. They can offer proven sample designs to help achieve a robust part in an efficient and flexible production process.This becomes even more essential when sustainability is a key goal of the design. Consider the entire life cycle of the product to ensure sustainability. Adhesives can contribute to sustainability in many ways, including:· Reducing stress, so the product consumes less materials in its production· Enabling designs that utilize recycled or bio-based components· Choosing processes that minimize energy in production· Adhesives that are bio-based, compostable, or recyclable· Designs that can be de-bonded for repair (reuse) and recyclabilityOften the improvement in one of these areas is a trade-off with another. For example, a recycled material that is not strong requires more material. Creative design with a good knowledge of these trade-offs can result in winning products that support a circular economy.When these concepts are integrated into an agile manufacturing approach, designs can quickly evolve to meet rising customer expectations and stay ahead of the competition, while using fast, efficient processes to keep costs under control. While this vision of Industry 4.0 has existed for some time, it long seemed to be in some far future. However, we are seeing examples that this vision is becoming a reality faster than many imagined was possible as the pace of digitization accelerates. Strong user-interface design helps operators meet the goals of speed, efficiency, and flexibilityLarry Saidman
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