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Revision as of 22:51, 29 January 2007

Research

After a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond, and interviewing customers in the store about what sort of house hold products they would like improved, we came up with the following list of suggestions and ideas:

• An automated can opener that is more durable-- customers complained about quality
• Pans that are lighter, and on which the "no-stick" aspect is more durable
• A better shelf organizing system
• A pots and pans organizer
• Tupperware that doesn't stain
• A shoe rack that doesn't fall apart- one that also rotates
• A self cleaning grill
• A self cleaning toaster
• A Foreman grill cleaner

Project

As part of the project, our group has selected a rotating tie rack to analyze, and attempt to apply its rotation mechanism to a rotating shoe rack.

The following notes were taken during this process.

Rotating Tie Rack Use

Function

This product is a space saving and organizational device. It is most likely placed in a consumers closet, and used to hang ties and belts.

Conventional Consumer Use

The product is fairly simple to use. The user begins by removing the item from its packaging. The user first inserts four C batteries into the battery compartment, and attaches the battery cover (part 004). The user then takes the top assembly(part 001) and places it over the closet rod, then placing the rest of the assembly beneath it, and fastening the two together. For some people, this is a difficult process. The top cover (part 008) is difficult to attach to the top assembly, and can get stuck, leaving the product partially assembled, and difficult to pull back apart. Once the product is assembled on the rod, the user must use the locking screws (part 002) to lock the tie rack in place on the rod.

Finally, once the product is assembled, it is ready to be used. Ties are hung on each hanger on the rotating belt (part 007), which is done easiest by letting the rack rotate while hanging a tie on each hanger. Once the ties are all hung, one can also hang belts on the belt hangers (part003) hanging from the bottom of the assembly. These are difficult to acces however, because the ties are in the line of sight and access route. To remove a tie from the rack, one must choose a button, left or right, to decide which way the belt will rotate. When the user pushes one of these buttons, a light turns on, spotlighting whichever tie is right in front of the rack. This is a good component, but the light itself does not have its own switch, meaning that the user cannot turn it off if it is undesired, which may be the case since it will drain the batteries faster.

Difficulties

• Assembly is difficult: top assembly and top cover are difficult to attach.
• Hanging ties is difficult: rack rotates too quickly-- must be constantly stopped while hanging ties.
• Access to belts is difficult: ties are in the way.
• Light turns on automatically when tie rack is in use, and cannot be turned off by user. This drains the battery more quickly.
• User must push the opposite button as already pushed to stop the rack. For example, if the user is pushing the right button to rotate the rack, he or she must push the left button to stop it, BUT, if the user pushes the left button too hard, the rack will begin spinning in the opposite direction.

Rotating Tie Rack Inputs and Outputs

There are many factors affecting the use and production of this product.

Inputs

The inputs in terms of materials, energy and information are:

• -
• -
• -

Outputs

The outputs in terms of materials, energy and information are:

• -
• -
• -

Rotating Tie Rack Use Scenarios

The way the rack is used may vary from customer to customer. The conventional use is described in a section above, but other uses are also possible:

• Use by a man to hang ties
• Use by a woman to hang ties
• Use by a man to hang ties and belts
• Use by a woman to hang ties and belts
• Use by a man to hang belts only
• Use by a woman to hang belts only
• All of the above could be placed inside or outside of closet

Age or disability is most likely not a problem for consumers, because if hung in the proper place in closet it can be used by consumres of all heights, weight ratios, ages, and abilities.

Rotating Tie Rack Dissection

The product was dissassembled to analyze each individual part of it. Each part was weighed, measured and described, and its purpose was thoroughly analyzed.

The following are the components of the assembly:

Manufacturing

Other Stakeholders

Aside from the consumers, there are others who are affected by the engineering and manufacturing of the product. Those individuals include, but are not limited to, the workers in the assembly line, the supervising engineers, and the people designing the manufacturing equipment.

• Common problems for the assembly workers could be:
  • Assembling motor: grease on hands
  • Parts not snapping together properly
  • Soldering circuit board and wires could cause plastic to melt