Post hole digger
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The post hole digger is a common landscaping equipment. The primary customer need in a post hole digger is to have the ability to inexpensively dig a hole effectively and efficiently for landscaping and various other purposes (such as deploying a fence, erecting a wall, installing lamp posts, etc..). Because this is a heavy duty tool that must undergo large amounts of stresses from breaking soil, the first and foremost requirement is reliability and durability. Oftentimes, digging a hole is simply the foremost and critical step in the grand scheme of a project, and thus the customer will not want to experience a setback in a faulty post hole digger, causing a delay in the entire project. In addition, operating the post hole digger requires constant lifting and carrying, and thus the tool must be of relatively manageable weight to prevent consumer fatigue and discomfort. To reduce weight, the shaft of the post hole digger will oftentimes be made of wood, and in more advanced designs, fiberglass. | The post hole digger is a common landscaping equipment. The primary customer need in a post hole digger is to have the ability to inexpensively dig a hole effectively and efficiently for landscaping and various other purposes (such as deploying a fence, erecting a wall, installing lamp posts, etc..). Because this is a heavy duty tool that must undergo large amounts of stresses from breaking soil, the first and foremost requirement is reliability and durability. Oftentimes, digging a hole is simply the foremost and critical step in the grand scheme of a project, and thus the customer will not want to experience a setback in a faulty post hole digger, causing a delay in the entire project. In addition, operating the post hole digger requires constant lifting and carrying, and thus the tool must be of relatively manageable weight to prevent consumer fatigue and discomfort. To reduce weight, the shaft of the post hole digger will oftentimes be made of wood, and in more advanced designs, fiberglass. | ||
- | '''Stakeholders and thier concerns''' | + | |
+ | == '''Stakeholders and thier concerns''' == | ||
'''''Consumers:'''''<br /> | '''''Consumers:'''''<br /> |
Revision as of 13:57, 21 September 2008
Contents |
Executive Summary
Customer Needs and Stakeholders
The post hole digger is a common landscaping equipment. The primary customer need in a post hole digger is to have the ability to inexpensively dig a hole effectively and efficiently for landscaping and various other purposes (such as deploying a fence, erecting a wall, installing lamp posts, etc..). Because this is a heavy duty tool that must undergo large amounts of stresses from breaking soil, the first and foremost requirement is reliability and durability. Oftentimes, digging a hole is simply the foremost and critical step in the grand scheme of a project, and thus the customer will not want to experience a setback in a faulty post hole digger, causing a delay in the entire project. In addition, operating the post hole digger requires constant lifting and carrying, and thus the tool must be of relatively manageable weight to prevent consumer fatigue and discomfort. To reduce weight, the shaft of the post hole digger will oftentimes be made of wood, and in more advanced designs, fiberglass.
Stakeholders and thier concerns
Consumers:
There are a wide range of concerns for the users of the post hole digger. Some concern one type of user more than others, and vice versa. However, the main general concern for each user involve the weight of the post hole digger, the cost, the durability, and the effective ease of use. The post hole digger must be light enough to be used repeatedly without causing injury, cheap enough to be a good investment, strong enough not to break under heavy use, and effective enough to warrant purchasing an entire tool solely for digging holes.
The following is a breakdown of the main types of users and thier specific concerns.
Landscapers - The most common user, the landscaper primarily uses the tool to erect fences and walls, and thus the post hole digger is used in high frequency. To the landscaper, weight is key as they are constantly digging holes.
Homeowners - These users are categorized as the everyday homeowners who percieve landscaping as a hobby. They use the post hole digger as a tool to maintain thier backyard, but only do so sparingly and when needed. To these users, the cost of the post hole digger is essential, if the price is too high, it will be seen as an unnecesarry investment.
Construction workers
Farmers
Design Engineers:
Manufacturers:
Retailers (Lowes, Home Depot, etc..):
Product Function/Evaluation
A total of two different post hole digger designs are examined. One is the most basic standard post hole digger manufactured by True Temper, and the other is a more complex post hole digger that utilizes a compound action, also manufactured by True Temper.
In all designs, the post hole digger consists of two main shovel blades hinged in a jaw-like arrangement, the shovel blades are open when the handles are closed, and close when the handles are pulled apart.
In operation, the post hole digger is initially thrust into the ground while the handles are in the closed position, allowing the shovel blades to effectively draw in soil and earth. Once the shovel blades are fully embedded into the soil, the handles are drawn apart, causing the blades to swivel shut, grasping the soil. Oftentimes for dense earth, the handles must be open and closed a number of times to effectively break the soil to be grasped. Once the handle is shut, the operator will lift up the post hole digger with the captured soil, leaving a round, deep hole in the ground.