Report into Sustainable Design& A ;Needs Analysis for the merchandises
Executive Summary:
This study for theDisabled Life AccessoriesCompany( DLAC ) looks at a possible design betterment for a knee support presently being manufactured by the company, with the purpose of doing the merchandise more various, more sustainable, and suiting closer to the demands of the client.
Initially, a needs analysis ( see appendix I ) was carried out analyzing DLAC’s three major merchandises, and analyzing the market to see which, if any, of them needed updating or modernising in order to be more sustainable and to better run into the demands of the single client.
From the demands analysis it was established that one of the current merchandises was non merely in an country where the market was increasing, but besides had several characteristics which could be updated utilizing the latest engineering. From this get downing point, amendments and recommendations have been made to better the merchandise and increase its market portion.
The other merchandises in the DLAC scope may besides be able to be improved and made more sustainable than they presently are, but this would necessitate specialist market research and client questionnaires, because the markets for the other merchandises are stable, non turning in the manner that the market for the Knee Brace is turning.
Table of Contentss
Recognitions:
Executive Summary:
Table of figures:
1. Introduction:
2. Description of Final Design:
3. Design Evaluation:
4. Sustainability:
4.1 What is sustainability and sustainable merchandise design?
4.2 Specifying sustainability:
Mentions:
Appendix I: Needs Analysis
Table of figures:
Figure 1: Simple Friction Lock
Figure 2: Normal flexure of Human articulatio genus
1. Introduction:
This company designs and manufactures mobility merchandises for handicapped people, with three major merchandises in current production. A needs analysis for those three merchandises ( included in appendix I ) found that one of the three needed small or no betterment ( Revolving Car Seat ) , but that in each of the other instances there was some client feedback which implied that betterments could be made.
Further probe into this feedback brought the decision that the merchandise which was in most pressing demand of update and redesign was the Knee Brace, partially because it is a major merchandising merchandise in the scope, and partially because the betterments can be made without the major technology alterations that would be needed to redesign the walking AIDSs.
The chief factor considered for the redesign was the issue of sustainability, with recyclability, lastingness, and material choice all being a portion of this procedure. However, a secondary consideration was integrating with bing production, so that as many parts as possible would be interchangeable between the original design and the new version, although this is besides connected with sustainability, since it reduces the necessity for re-tooling and amendments to providers and goods bought.
2. Description of Final Design:
The concluding design includes an improved lockup mechanism that can be operated from either side of the leg, intending that alternatively of bring forthing Left and Right articulatio genus versions, a cosmopolitan merchandise can be produced, well cut downing wastage. The original brace had a simple lockup mechanism ( see figure 1 ) and the first betterment was to do this so that it could be operated from either inside or outside the articulatio genus which was braced.
This was achieved by the usage of lightweight composite stuffs, sustainable because they are made from natural fibers incorporated in a matrix in a similar manner to GRP ( Glass Reinforced Plastic: Fiberglass ) but utilizing merely natural stuffs for the fibers and the matrix ( Mallick, 2007 ) . The following alteration needed was to command the flexure angle of the articulatio genus, and to let the lock to be used in two ways, one ; to put the joint in a peculiar place ( old version could be locked at 0° an 90° ) and two ; to let limited motion between two fixed ( adjustable ) limits across the normal scope of joint motion ( see figure 2 ) .
Figure 1: Simple Friction Lock
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The intent of this 2nd amendment is that when patients have undergone articulatio genus surgery they can non ab initio recover the full motion of the joint, and seeking to travel it past a certain point can take to joint instability ( Haggmark & A ; Eriksson, 1979 ) . As the patients’ status improves, the brace can let excess motion, in 5° increases.
Figure 2: Normal flexure of Human articulatio genus
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3. Design Evaluation:
The original merchandise was ‘fit for purpose’ , but the altering market with more handicapped people take parting in athletics ( Mayor of London & A ; HMG, 2013 ) , and a corresponding addition in soft tissue hurts around the articulatio genus and other articulations led to a little alteration in the customers’ demands.
The new design is more efficient in several ways ;
- It is cosmopolitan – cut downing the demand to fabricate or stock Left- or Right-handed versions of the same merchandise.
- It is more various – alternatively of being lockable in two places, it can now be locked in any place, or adjusted to give a limited scope of flexure before Michigans or supports are reached.
- It is manufactured from sustainable composite stuffs alternatively of oil based plastics.
- It entreaties to a much wider market – no longer merely the arthritis sick person, but besides athletes retrieving from hurt, both able-bodied and handicapped. It can now be sold through the physical therapy path every bit good as the surgical support path.
4. Sustainability:
In the 21st century, it is of import that all new merchandises are sustainable, and that re-designs of bing merchandises include sustainability in some signifier. As universe resources diminish this becomes an progressively of import portion of any design work, with applied scientists necessitating to see the redesign of any non-sustainable merchandise.
4.1 What is sustainability and sustainable merchandise design?
The simple definition of sustainability in any merchandise is that it can go on to be manufactured utilizing minimum natural resources, and holding the ability to be re-cycled or re-used after the initial intent is served. To plan sustainable merchandises needs an extended cognition of the belongingss of modern stuffs that incorporate natural fibers ( Mallick, 2007 ) and do non used oil-based plastics for the matrix.
Many of these modern complexs are really harder and stronger than their earlier opposite numbers every bit good as frequently being lighter and easier to work with, conveying benefits to the maker and to the user. The monetary value advantage originally enjoyed by the oil-based plastics has been eroded by the go oning rise in oil monetary values, increasing still farther the entreaty of ‘green’ and sustainable options.
4.2 Specifying sustainability:
A company that wishes to last and turn demands to see the sustainability of all of their merchandises, procedures, and supplies. The articulatio genus brace design included here is sustainable because ;
- It has been simplified, so there is no wastage where for illustration a provider may merely hold a Left brace in stock when the client requires a Right brace.
- It has been made stronger and lighter, one of the largest advantages of the modern composite stuffs.
- It has entered a larger market topographic point, alternatively of merely being suited for specific patients it can now besides be used as a rehabilitation tool.
These factors mean that the point will be able to go on in production for many old ages without going obsolete or expensive due to the stuff from which it is made. This gives the client and the company a long-run stableness which should besides allow the debut of other new thoughts and inventions which could be helpful in the rehabilitation and disablement market topographic point.
Mentions:
CIBA, 1962.Hemp,Basle, Switzerland: CIBA.
CSP, 2014.Chartered Society of Physiotherapists ; Home page.[ Online ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.csp.org.uk/ [ Accessed 27 April 2014 ] .
Haggmark, T. & A ; Eriksson, E. , 1979. Cylinder or mobile dramatis personae brace after articulatio genus ligament surgery: A clinical analysis and morphologic and enzymatic surveies of alterations in the quadriceps musculus.American Journal of Sports medical specialty,7 ( 1 ) , pp. 48-56.
Mallick, P. K. , 2007.Fiber-reinforced Complexs: Materials, Manufacturing and Design.Boca Raton: Taylor & A ; Francis.
Mayor of London & A ; HMG, 2013.Inspired by 2012: The bequest from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,London: HMG.
Appendix I: Needs Analysis
Introduction:
The company that the design study is for are a company which design and bring forth a scope of devices to assist handicapped people in their mundane life. The needs analysis is intended to place more closely the demands of our mark clients, and to see if we can redesign or better the merchandise to do it closer to the demands of the client. The current scope of merchandises is mobility based, walking AIDSs, revolving auto seats and knee support braces.
Customer:
It is non clear whether we have an norm or typical client, but it is preferred to believe that we do non, and that every individual client is an single with single demands. This raises farther inquiries, since this means that we must seek to do merchandises that will assist with mobility, but which will be accepted by a scope of clients of all ages and demands.
Walking Aidss:
The scope of walking AIDSs that the company produces screens walking sticks to wheelchairs, with many points between. The most common merchandise is the ‘elbow crutch’ like those shown in figure 1.
Figure 1: Elbow Crutchs
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These presently have ‘anatomic’ hand-gripsi.e.they are right and left handed and can merely be used in the right manus, since client feedback indicated that this is more comfy in usage. However, the ‘open cuff’ design does non accommodate every client, so it may be possible to redesign the point so that the turnup could be interchangeable or customised. This could besides enable the interior decorators to include an alternate top piece for those who need a ‘platform’ crutch ( see fig 2 ) .
Figure 2: Platform Crutch
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Is there sufficient demand to do it worthwhile to bring forth one crutch that has an interchangeable top that will make both occupations? Further research needed here.
Revolving Car Seat:
Figure 3: Rotating auto place
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This controls ( swivel ) place plants by leting the place to travel ( rotate ) up to 90 grades. This allows a individual with limited mobility to easy come in the auto, and although figure 3 shows the place as a rider option, it is besides available for the auto driver.
This merchandise appears satisfactory to our clients, and at that place have been no petitions for changes, the lone inquiry to see being the ethical issue of ‘promoting’ the usage of motor vehicles. It can be argued, nevertheless, that since this place can besides be fitted to hybrid and electric vehicles, the force per unit area is on the motor makers to do their merchandises sustainable, since ours already is and merely fit their engineering.
Knee Support Brace:
Figure 4: Knee Support Brace
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This merchandise is one of our biggest Sellerss, since many clients will have more than one. The usual usage for the brace is for users with arthritis or similar articulation ailments, but it can besides be utilised by those retrieving from articulatio genus surgery or cruciate ligament jobs. In its standard signifier, the brace can be ‘locked’ in either a heterosexual or a dead set place with a manual lock fitted to the exterior of the legi.e.the merchandise is different for left leg or right leg.
This merchandise is still in a growing country of disablement merchandises, as at that place seems to be a larger market as more handicapped people participate in athleticss following the recent 2012 Paralympics ( Mayor of London & A ; HMG, 2013 ) . There have been no specific petitions for fluctuations on the brace, nevertheless the logical betterment is to do the brace universal, so that it will suit either leg, and the locking control can run on either side. It may besides be possible to present a variable flection option, for those users who are seeking to slowly increase the mobility of the articulatio genus articulation ( Haggmark & A ; Eriksson, 1979 ) .
Mentions:
Haggmark, T. & A ; Eriksson, E. , 1979. Cylinder or mobile dramatis personae brace after articulatio genus ligament surgery: A clinical analysis and morphologic and enzymatic surveies of alterations in the quadriceps musculus.American Journal of Sports medical specialty,7 ( 1 ) , pp. 48-56.
Mayor of London & A ; HMG, 2013.Inspired by 2012: The bequest from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,London: HMG.
