Design

Design

Product Design

Using interview and questionnaire as a research methodology tools for the purpose of obtaining information from the consumers, the following were listed as the customer requirement for bottle opener:

1. The product to be light and easy to handle.
2. The product to have drawings on it e.g. flowers.
3. The product to be affordable.
4. The product to be durable.
5. The product to have a silvery surface.
6. The product to be efficient in opening the bottles.

Interview was chosen because of its accuracy, thus getting the right information with regards to the consumers while questionnaires were used because of their ease of administration (Roozenburg & Eekels, 1995).

Major Design parameters

            According to the consumer requirements above, the following were the design parameters:

1. Product quality standards and requirements- the current aspect of quality in competing products and possible highest attainable.
2. Product size and weight- The customer requirement and the imposed constrain on the design (Ulrich & Eppinger, 1995).
3. Expected product aesthetics and ergonomic requirement- the key features desirable in the product and designing around the problem areas for users.
4. The product performance requirements-product service life and product shelf life.
5. Expect product completion.
6. The potential customer base. The possibility of tapping into the new segment of the market.
7. Target product price and production volume and the market share.
8. The company constrains with regards to the product design, manufacture and distribution.

Basing on the product design, performance and market issue, the following were considered as major design parameters:

1. The company constrains with regards to the product design, manufacture and distribution.
2. The product performance requirements-product service life and product shelf life.
3. Product quality standards and requirements- the current aspect of quality in competing products and possible highest attainable.
4. Expected product aesthetics and ergonomic requirement- the key features desirable in the product and designing around the problem areas for users.
5. Target product price and production volume and the market share.

Product quality standards and requirement determines the company constrains since it is an aspect of design and would also determine the cost of manufacturing. The two would greatly affect the target product price and the production volume (Hollins & Pugh, 1990).  Product aesthetics ergonomic requirements would also be vital in determination of the product target price.

Product Design Specification (PDS)

            The Product Design Specification for bottle opener is as followers:

Performance: To provide medium part to be held and opener to have a ring with a hook that can be used to attached on the belt or hang it. This should be adjustable.

Size: The bottle opener to 2cm long with around shaped head and to be made of a thin blade with a thickness of 1mm.

Cost: Manufacturing cost.

Quantity: 3000 batches.

Maintenance: None.

Material: transportable and not easily damaged (Fowlkes, Creveling & Derimiggio, 1995).

Weight: 20 grams.

Aesthetic: to present an image of compactness and reliability.

Product life: Ten years.

Customer: Domestic use and usage in restaurants, hotels and pubs.

Reliability: A maximum of 1% failure.

Safety: Should not have sharp edges or projections.

Environment:  Resistant to water, salt, dust, wind, ice, rocks, common solvents.

Time scale: Production to start ten months from the date of specification.

Testing: The prototypes should meet PDS.

Ergonomic: Must easy, efficient and convenient to handle.

Competition: To be analyzed.

Patent: 10 years.

Market: Worldwide.

This PDS meets the customers’ requirements of the product being light and easy to handle, product affordability, product durability and product efficiency (Boothroyd, 1994). The PDS also meets the major parameters that were listed such as the company constrains with regards to the product design, manufacture and distribution, performance requirements-product service life and product shelf life, product quality standards and requirements- the current aspect of quality in competing products and possible highest attainable and expected product aesthetics and ergonomic requirement- the key features desirable in the product and designing around the problem areas for users.

Using the traditional conceptual design methodology which entailed determining of the function- which was achieved by analyzing specifications of the product in question (bottle opener), division of the function into sub-functions (resulting to functional structure), and the use of catalogue for the purpose of determining functional elements or components, a number of design solutions were reached at. The following were some of the design solutions:

 

 

 

 

1                                 2                                3                                    4

 

Research solution 3 and 4 were picked as the best since they meet the following requirements, the material that was suggested to be used was durable thus making the opener to be of good life expectancy since this is a tool which is always used in damp conditions (this material too could not contaminate the liquid and also could be cleaned easily), with regards to ergonomics, the size of the opener could enable the ease of usage and it required minimal force to operate or open the bottle. The comfort of the opener took into consideration a number of uses in terms of age and gender and that are considered to be best for both right and left hand users. With regards to aesthetics, the product feel and balance were considered to be right for the target market (Hollins & Pugh, 1990). With regards to performance, the two solutions as presented above could be used with a lot of ease and could be used without posing any kind danger to the users since they had no sharp edges or points on the outer surface or the frame.

By application of Creative Conceptual design with the aim of taking into consideration the aspects of the quality of the final product, cost and the aspects of market demand (Ulrich & Eppinger, 1995).), the following conceptual design will be used for the two design solution:

Transformation Development Creation

Constraint satisfaction Constraint discovery

 

This concept took into consideration the requirements and the needs of the customers which will guide the scheme of implementation of the artifact. This will be hinged upon the generation of ideas which are vital to the design.  The bottle opener is expected to be used with minimum application of force to ensure that the bottles are not broken or the liquid contaminated.

Compliance check on the chosen solution revealed the following; the proposed solution would result to a bottle opener that would perform its function well and this will be characterized by ease of usage. It will be effective for usage by both adults and children. The proposed material to be used is of high quality and this is shown in the thickness the proposed steel plate to be used. A thermoplastic that will be used is also thick enough. This would ensure that the opener passes the function test. Because of this, all the customers are expected to have a feel of quality of the product. With regards to aesthetics, the solution would ensure the production of bottle openers which have the best feel and smoothness. Ergonomics of the proposed bottle opener according to the proposed solution would make it easy for individuals who are left handed or right handed to use the opener. The solution would ensure that the children open the bottle with ease without finding it too big or rather heavy (Boothroyd, 1994).  The solution also ensures that there is value for money the customers spend on the opener. Both the adults and the younger users will be catered for.

Conclusion                                                                            

The output the above design will be based on the design representation upon which conceptualization is based. This will be inclusive of the design space (MacLean et al.). It will take it consideration its intended use, artefact, and its environment. The outcome be focused on meeting the requirements of the customers as seen above which include a product which is light and easy to handle, have drawings on it e.g. flowers, the product to be affordable to the customers, the product to be durable, the product to have a silvery surface made of steel plate, and that the product should be efficient in opening the bottles.

References

Boothroyd, G. (1994). Product design for manufacture and assembly. Computer-Aided Design, 26(7), 505-520.

Fowlkes, W. Y., Creveling, C. M., & Derimiggio, J. (1995). Engineering methods for robust product design: using Taguchi methods in technology and product development. Reading: Addison-Wesley.

Hollins, B., & Pugh, S. (1990). Successful product design: what to do and when. London: Butterworths.

Roozenburg, N. F., & Eekels, J. (1995). Product design: fundamentals and methods (Vol. 2). Chichester: Wiley.

Ulrich, K. T., & Eppinger, S. D. (1995). Product design and development (Vol. 384). New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

 

 

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