IT IS KNOWN THAT THE DFA RULES HAVE EFFECTS IN MANY OTHER AREAS (PRODUCTION, PURCHASING, SERVICE, COST). IN THIS PAPER, A NEW WAY OF FORMULATING AND USING THE DFA- RULES IS PRESENTED, LINKING GOALS, RULES, DECISIONS, AND EFFECTS TOGETHER. EACH SUCH SET OF RULES IS A DISPOSITION MECHANISM. BY USING THE DISPOSITION MODEL IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA, THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE DFA RULES TO EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES IS MADE VISIBLE. TODAY, DFA MUST BE SEEN AS AN ELEMENT IN A LARGER GROUP OF TOOLS, BRINGING THE PRODUCT DESIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FUNCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND GOALS LIKE QUALITY, COST, AND LEAD TIME. FOR THE DESIGNER, THIS TOTALITY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.