How Does Reverse Engineering Differ From Other Types Of Engineering?

Forward engineering is the oldest form of engineering technology used in developmental process. The products are invented by a manufacturer by applying the engineering abstractions and concepts . But reverse engineering starts with the final product. Reverse engineering is the method of knowing the technological principles of object, device or a system through analysis. It is a process in which an object, device or system is broken down carefully to their most basics forms to determine how every part has been created to work unanimously as a single, functional unit.

Reverse engineering is very different from other forms of engineering that involves creation of a product from the start. In this form of engineering products are broken in their purest or most basic form to see how they are bonded with other parts to create the original product.

Value engineering is a form of engineering which is successfully applied to strategic quality improvement, strategic planning, manufacturing, management studies and construction has demonstrated both its durability and versatility as a management practice. It relates to making of a better product or system to the actually analyzed. While creating new products, systems or devices engineers might make mistakes applying the technology properly or while testing the newer technology, value engineering gives another chance to analyze the product and rectify its mistakes to make it work and thus save money, energy and enhance output.

There is often an overlap between the processes used in reverse engineering and value engineering. The main aim of reverse engineering is enhanced documentation on what principles an original product works by revealing the underlying design. The product which is an outcome of reverse engineering is imitated to the original system without necessarily adding improvements or modifications to the actual design.

Reverse engineering was first applied for military and corporate purposes. With its increasing advantages and more functions, it is now also used in variety of fields. The other traditional form of engineering is more focused on inventing new products by applying the principles and logics of engineering.

The application of engineering principles for newer products may or may not be successful in creating a product, reverse engineering, on the other hand makes use of the technology that has already been developed and applied. It is a form of engineering which is usually successful and is also able to enhance the value of the product, system or device. The reasons for implementation of reverse engineering are:

Interoperability.
Lost documentation: if a documentation of a product was not written ever or is lost then reverse engineering can be done on it. The integrated systems that have been designed on wrong or obsolete systems can be redesigned and made to work properly only by the process of reverse engineering.
Product analysis: Product analysis is used to determine how a product works and what all components are used to create it.

Reverse Engineering is thus a form of design recovery and helps in analyzing the principles and designs that were used in creating an original product to either make similar products or enhance the applied technology further.