Materials Matters Newsletter

April 2005

 Topics:

• Materials Considerations
  
• Submitting Samples for Analysis
  
• Making Successful Decisions
  

 

Materials Considerations

Most companies understand the relationship between materials performance and cost.  However, few people appreciate the impact of materials properties on this equation, especially when buying more performance than needed.  Understanding materials properties is critical in making decisions that optimize cost and performance.

Materials properties include basic  mechanical, chemical, electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties, composition, and microstructure (e.g. grain size, fiber orientation).

Materials engineering involves understanding the correlation between a material’s cost, performance, and basic properties.  The knowledge gained in the materials engineering approach facilitates timely and well-informed materials decisions relating to:

• New designs
• Cost reduction efforts
• Supplier selection
• Manufacturing yield improvements

For example going from material 1 to material 2 results in cost savings without impacting performance.  This change is made possible by understanding the specific  material properties requirements.  In this example, it is possible to substitute a different material to achieve the same performance, but at a lower cost.

In another example, changing from material 1 to material 4 achieves better performance at the same cost.  Again, this is possible by fully understanding the materials properties requirements and how they relate to performance.

Ultimately, a better understanding of the performance/cost/properties relationship  will provide companies with a competitive advantage.

Submitting Samples for Analysis

When submitting samples for materials analysis keep a few things in mind:

• Handle the samples as little as possible to avoid contamination.
• For a failure analysis, do not try to mate the failed surfaces.  This could damage the surfaces.
• Provide as much information as possible about the samples.  This includes part drawings, materials specs, process flow, and application conditions.
• Spend some time with the materials engineer to determine the right question to answer.  Getting information that does not lead to a good final decision is frustrating, and expensive.

Making Sound Decisions

Making well-informed decisions is crucial for any successful business.  However, researchers have found that there are a series of flaws in the way people think when making decisions.

In  “The Hidden Traps in Decision Making” [1] the authors discuss a number of well-documented psychological traps that undermine decisions.  Business examples for each trap are given, along with recommendations on how to avoid the traps.

Some of the traps that people fall into when making a decision are:

• The Anchoring Trap.  When considering a decision, the mind gives disproportionate weight to the first information it receives.
• The Status-Quo Trap. This arises from our desire to protect our egos by avoiding the risk of making  a change.
• The Sunk Cost Trap.  Related to making choices that justify past choices.
• The Confirming Evidence Trap.  Related to seeking out information that supports our existing instinct or point of view, while avoiding information that contradicts it.
• The Framing Trap.  The way a problem is framed will have a huge impact on the choices made.  A poorly framed problem can undermine even the best-considered decision.

The information in the article is applicable to any business or personal decision.
    
[1] J.S. Hammond, R.L. Keeney, H. Raiffa, The Hidden Traps in Decision Making, Harvard Business Review, 1998, p. 47