Mechanical Design is the process of developing the mechanisms/machines necessary to convert energy into useful mechanical forms and transform resources into a desired output. This includes determining what factors influence the design of a mechanical system, how the factors relate with each other throughout the design process, and how to configure the factors to meet design criteria and constraints. This concept is important to Engineering Literacy as it encompasses the knowledge necessary to analyze, design, and manufacture mechanical devices and systems. For example, mechanical design principles enable one to incorporate the analysis of items such as gears, shafts, fasteners, and gearboxes in regards to the fatigue and heating effects resulting from working stresses and repeated loadings in the creation of a mechanical system.