The schedule for this project was tight, and therefore, I decided early on to build it out of sequence using a take on group technology methods where similar components of somewhat unrelated assemblies are produced together to maximize build efficiency.
I accomplished this mainly by developing cut lists based not on a sequential assembly order, but on parts sorted by common construction technique and material size. It helped therefore to design with as much commonality as possible. Frames were made with 3/8" wide x 1 1/2" long mortise and tenon joints in 2" wide 5/4 stock for example. There were numerous panel glue ups not only for doors and side panels, but also drawer sides, fronts, and backs using 4/4 stock that were sorted into a single cut list and produced together.
Building this way allowed enough extra time in the project schedule to accommodate the construction of a rather interesting four-panel veneered top design, and the special open frame-left side doors that visually enclose the front and back of the cabinet, yet allow proper ventilation for a computer system the client intends to store within.
Building a design without regard to construction sequence requires a high degree of definition and planning up front that almost certainly negates evolution as the project progresses, evolution that often produces a better end result through the application of a builder's creative process. But I must admit that I often think about product design within the constraints of a shop that operates within a valid business model, and that requires a consideration of production rate and cost containment especially when the project is commissioned by a client as it was in this case.
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