What is the main purpose of reverse engineering in product design?

The main purpose of reverse engineering in product design is to analyze a product to understand its components and function. This process involves disassembling an existing product to gain insights into its design, materials, and operations. By examining how a product is constructed and how it performs, designers can identify strengths and weaknesses, which can inform future product development or improvements.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of a product's features and technology allows designers to enhance their own designs, innovate effectively, and avoid potential pitfalls in their processes. This practice can be particularly beneficial for troubleshooting, ensuring compatibility with new products, or when developing new solutions that address the same user needs.

While creating new versions of existing products, marketing, and cost reduction are important aspects of product design, these actions usually stem from the knowledge gained through reverse engineering rather than representing its primary purpose.