The goal of discussing design for manufacture and assembly is to determine how to design a product such that it can be manufactured and assembled in the most cost-effective manner. Design for manufacture (DFM) is concerned with reducing the overall product production cost and, more obviously, design for assembly (DFA) is concerned with the reduction of material inputs, capital overhead costs and reduction of labor. Both focus on the application of standards to reduce production costs and both also seek to shorten the product development cycle time. The combination of the two methodologies is also commonly referred to as design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA). DFMA is a clear path to reducing the cost of your next design. The benefits of reducing the number of in a design are apparent. Products will be more viable if they are lower cost and less prone to failures but, by reducing the amount of materials that go into making products handling cost are also reduced, documentation requirements are minimized, and the required assembly labor is lowered. All of these factors lead to lower production cost and allow for either higher margins for products or price products at more competitive price point. Furthermore, production time is reduced, allowing for delivery of product to customer to be reached within less time. DFMA formalizes the implementation of these goals.