Decisions made during the engineering design phase of product development determine the majority of the costs associated with the manufacturing of that product (some say that this value may be as high as 85%). As design and manufacturing processes become more complex, engineers are making decisions that involve money more than ever before. Thus, the competent and successful engineer in the twenty-first century must have an improved understanding of the principles of science, engineering, and economics, coupled with relevant design experience. Increasingly, in the new world economy, successful businesses will rely on engineers with such expertise.
