RM NOTES
INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEMS
PEOPLE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY
INFORMING DESIGN DECISIONS
CROWDFUNDING - a person/company seeking funding for a new product, who sets up a website page where the public can donate.
COOPERATIVES - companies that are owned by their members, who are usually their employees and customers, they have social aims as well as economic ones, reinvesting their profits into the local community.
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT Continuous improvement is ongoing upgrading of products to continue competing in the marketplace. Such as improving staff training so that the product line is more efficient
RAPID PROTOTYPING rapid prototyping is the fast assembly of a product using 3D CAD. An example of this is 3D printing.
CAM CAM is Computer Aided Manufacture.
FAIRTRADE - ensures realistic prices for farmers' goods, and aims to protect the rights of workers and guarantees good working conditions.
CIM CIM is Computer Integrated Manufacture. This is the complete automation of a manufacturing facility, such as a factory. CAD --> CAM --> automated storage --> automated distribution
BARCODES - barcodes are used in manufacturing on the production line, computers use them to keep track of products. - barcodes are used in distribution to keep track of the products as they are transported to shops/customers. - barcodes are used in stores as they can keep a track of how many of the product they have, making sure they have the correct supplies.
CNC CNC is Computer Numerical Control. It converts a CAD design into numbers which are used to create coordinates.
EDI EDI is Electronic Data Interchange. Companies use standardised document / file formats. Employees use the same computer system to order materials, track customer orders, control stock levels, produce invoices and to carry out accounting.
EDI's mean that data can be transferred from one branch to another and even across the world, with full confidence that the data can be accessed, edited and updated, without issues.
- reduces overall cost
- eliminates need for paper
CAD CAD is Computer Aided Design. An example is Sketchup
Disadvantages: - expensive - less people are employed as automated machines are used instead - people aren't taught the skills anymore as they aren't needed - if the machines break down then the product can be lost
ICT ICT is Information Communication Technology. The internet can be used for advertisements, tele-marketing takes place over the phone to get people to pay for products, Questionnaires can be sent out to gather useful information for the product to be improved and direct mailing is used by a lot of DVD companies.
E-COMMERCE E-commerce is customers/potential customers search for products and purchase products on the internet. It is the use of ICT systems by a business, company and customers.
COPYRIGHT protects peoples' companies, organisations and creative/artistic works.
TRADEMARK A symbol/sign that identifies your products or services.
PATENT protects a person or company that invents something new. It prevents anyone stealing your idea.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT Raw materials --> material processing --> stages of manufacturing --> assembly --> distribution to customer --> use by customer -->end of life recycling --> (back to beginning)
OBSOLESCENCE
RENEWABLE ENERGY
UPCYCLING - Using the parts of a product at the end of its life to make a new high quality product
CARBON FOOTPRINT - the measurement of a persons negative carbon impact on the environment. It can be reduced by buying locally, buying crops in season (e.g. strawberries), recycling, reduce packaging, green energy
CLOSED LOOP RECYCLING - the ability of a product to be 100% recycled continually, as every part to the product is recyclable. This is good for the environment as none of the components are thrown away and go to landfill.
SUSTAINABLE FOREST A sustainable forest is a forest that is carefully managed so that as trees are felled they are replaced with seedlings that eventually grow into mature trees. Great care is taken to ensure the safety of wildlife and to preserve the natural environment.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRABILITY Being able to maintain and repair a product reduces the need to keep buying more of the products, as it can be repaired, lengthening its life, meaning that the environment is impacted less.
SUSTAINABILITY - CARDBOARD Sustainable means that the material can be renewed. Sustainable cardboard packaging is packaging that comes from somewhere where they look after the environment, such as when chopping one tree down, they plant another one so it doesn't damage the environment.
OPTIMISED WORKFLOW Ensuring that the product line runs smoothly and that interruptions do not occur. It aims to eliminate any unnecessary procedures that slow down production.
FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING When a machine is used to manufacture a variety of products/components. - DVD/CD storage is made this way.
LEAN MANUFACTURING A set of principles, aimed at reducing cost of manufacture, reducing waste, improving productivity and continually improving the final product.
GLOBALISATION Globalisation is basically 'world trade'. There is free movement of products, services and capital, across the borders of the world.
Advantages:
- cheaper products
- increased availability and variety of products
- increased trade and corresponding economic success
Disadvantages: - increased pollution and environmental damage
- some companies move their manufacturing to countries where labour is cheap.
- Working conditions and Health and Safety decline as a result.
JIT JIT means Just In Time. - When an order arrives at the manufacturing company, it is dealt with quickly --> materials/components are ordered for an under 24 hours delivery --> as soon as the parts arrive, they are processed on the production line without any delay --> when it's ready distribution happens.
- rapid
- reputation of reliability
- staff are well trained
RECYCLE reforming/processing one product into another.
STANDARD COMPONENTS standard components, such as phone components that are used in all phone companies, are needed to mass manufacture the product.
EXAMPLES OF:
DESIGN STRATEGIES
TREND A trend could be described as the way a product or a type of ‘technology’, develops along a particular path, over a period of time. It is a product that people think is the 'must have' of the time. An example of a trend is the Apple iPod touch with led to the development of many similar products.
INCLUSIVITY An inclusive design, is one that allows maximum use, by the widest range of people, without the need to adapt or add accessories, e.g. and adjustable chair, a sit to stand adjustable height table
ICT IN DEVELOPING AND MODELLING CAD is used to first design the product, using the CAD software allows the idea to be created in a 3D visual. CAM is used to make the prototype, and then later on, the actual product. This is done by things such as a 3D printer. The internet allows files from different people in the business to be sent an share ideas. Software for presenting the ideas to investors can be used, e.g. PowerPoint.
WORKING AS A TEAM Working as a team gives all the members an opportunity to work towards a goal and share out the workload, working to peoples' strengths. Many people display different skills, and have different ideas and opinions. Working together allows you to incorporate all of these and get the best possible result.
CONSUMER CHOICE - the decisions that consumers make with regard to products and services. The purpose in understanding the consumer choice theory is so that companies can maximise their profits and boost their company economically. Knowing what choices the consumers are going to make is vital as you need to appeal to them, otherwise they stop spending money and your economic statues deflates.
CULTURE Designers have to think about culture when designing products, as they want to maximise the amount of potential customers, and designing something that goes against peoples' culture and beliefs disclude them from the target audience, which is not what you want. Designers have to be careful with the design choices they make as sometimes you can offend people. They should try and make their designs inclusive, regardless of someones gender, race or age.
WIND The wind turns the blades of a wind turbine around a rotor, that turns a generator which creates electricity
WAVE The up and down motion of the waves moves a floating device that turns a generator and creates electricity
SOLAR Solar panels convert light energy from the sun into electricity
PERCEIVED OBSOLESCENCE when a customer decides to upgrade a product, because the one they own, is considered out of date, even though it still works. This is bad for the environment as they will just throw out the perfectly usable product, which will go to waste.
PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE This is when a product is built to have a short life so that the customer will keep coming back for more, and companies get a profit. This is bad for the environment as the unusable products are just thrown away.
Has biodegradable packaging been used?
Are the materials used sustainably sourced?
Can the product be recycled?
Is the manufacturer trying to reduce its carbon footprint?
CAR LIFE CYCLE
DOWNCYCLING - When parts of a product are recycled into low quality products. Downcycling is mainly used for plastics.
REUSE Using a product or parts of a product for something else, at the end of the products life. Such as washing and using glass bottles as plant pots etc.
REPAIR design products that can be repaired and aren't disposable. It will last much longer and be environmentally friendly. Try to avoid buying non-repairable products.
REFUSE not buying a product if it wasn't made sustainably, or if it is not needed, or cannot be recycled.
REDUCE Using less non-renewable resources. Reducing the amount of raw materials that are cut down and used. Reducing waste. Reducing energy consumption.
RETHINK - are the materials sustainably sourced? - do you really need the product? - can you walk/bike instead of driving?
Advantages: - machines can run for 24 hours a day - if programmed, each product will be exactly the same - it's a lot quicker than hand making the products - there is less chance for malfunction or error in the products
TECHNOLOGY PUSH When research and development in technology drives the development of new products e.g. touch screen technology: 1993 Apple Newton PDA, 1996 Palm Series, 2012 Samsung Galaxy
MARKET PULL the need or requirement for a new product or a solution to a problem, which comes from the marketplace. The need is identified by potential customers or market research. A product or a range of products are developed, to solve the original need. An example of this is when 20 years ago there was a market 'need' for a camera that could take endless photographs that could then be viewed almost immediately. This led to tech companies developing products to fit these needs and fill the gap in the market.
ITERATIVE DESIGN A cyclic approach, ongoing testing, client feedback, focus groups, materials testing and prototype testing.
Initial large number of sketches/ideas --> initial models --> client input --> testing models/prototypes --> evaluate --> improve and refine ideas --> evaluate and modify --> (back to start)
COLLABORATION sometimes a team of people will work on the design and development of a product.
A design team working on a design problem, are more likely to develop a solution, in a shorter time, than an individual.
SYSTEMS APPROACH This is a very linear strategy. Design problem --> design brief --> ideas --> development --> working drawing --> manufacture --> evaluate