Which term describes changing a product's design to achieve better performance while preserving its function?

• A. Redesign
• B. Retrofit
• C. Re-engineer
• D. Refurbish

Answer: (C)

When you want better performance without changing what the product is supposed to do, you re-engineer it. This means revisiting the engineering aspects of the design—components, materials, manufacturing processes, and system architecture—to boost efficiency, reliability, or speed while keeping the same function and interfaces. It’s about improving how the product works without altering its purpose or how users interact with it.

Redesign is a broader term that can involve changing what the product does or how it is used, not necessarily keeping its original function intact. Retrofit involves adding new features or updating an existing product to a new context, which may change how it operates in ways beyond just performance. Refurbish focuses on restoring a product to like-new condition, usually without meaningful performance improvements.