• Lower Skilled workeres needed
• Lower cost implications
• Large volumes of products produced to the same standard
• Human monitoring of Quality Control
• Just in time ordering of materials

• Working in small teams
• Shared responsibility
• Interesting work, not so repetetive

• Teams take resposibility for all aspects of production
• Development of workforce skills
• System allows Quality Control to be acheived

• Product development is acheived more efficiently (cost saving)
• Allows analysis of multiple design features to occur at the same time prior to final development
• Multi-disciplinary approach builds positive teamwork and encourages collaborative work
• Encourages the consideration of product life-cycle (manufacture - disposal), cost, quality, and user requirements

• Product development can be accomplished more efficiently with a substantial cost saving
• Detailed information can be gained about a products structure and form
• An edge on the competition can be gained

JIT = Just In Time

Designed to reduce costs for the manufacturer, especially by reducing storage costs. Materials/components are delivered to the manufcaturer as they are needed (Just In Time) - a problem if the delivery doesn't arrive on time. 

Car production makes good use of JIT, where each car is mad eto the customer's specification. The correct materials/components arrive as the car reaches the correct stage on the production line.

• Less stroage space required
• Efficient and faster manufacturing system - gets the product more quickly to the market
• Releases capital (money) for use else where - not spent on stock just sitting on a shelf
• No depreciation in material costs
• Increased profit margins

A risk assessement is a careful examination of what, in the workplace, could cause harm to people, machinery, or the enviroment, so that one can weigh up whether or not enough safety precautions have been taken to prevent harm.

1. Identify the potential hazard
2. Who/what is at risk?
3. Evaluate existing precautions. Does something need to be done?
4. Record findings
5. Review the evaluation periodically and repeat process

Manufacturing stages used to produce products in industry.

1. Sourcing of materials
2. The buying cycle
3. Forward ordering
4. Storage
5. Processing
6. Assembly
7. Finishing
8. Packaging/labelling
9. Transportation

Stage One

Taking a raw material into a workable material

Stage Two

Systems used to ensure appropriate materials are in stock, e.g. planning and trakcing material orders.

Stage Three

Ordering in advance to ensure the materials are ready for production

Stage Four

Choosing an area which is big enough and suitable for the material, e.g. ventilated wood storage, fabric on roll

Stage Five

The stage of forming the material through hand and machining processes, e.g. cutting materials to size

Stage Six

Manufacturing methods used to join together components, e.g. stitching, adhesion, etc.

Stage Seven

To protect/enhance the appearance of the product, e.g. varnishing, topstitching, overlocking, binding

Stage Eight

Protection of the product, labelling to show that appropriate tests are carried out.

Stage Nine

To distribution centres and eventually to the consumers

The production of a product made only once, e.g. bespoke tailoring/furniture.

• Unique features of the product
• Made to measure item for a single item
• Specific scale or materials used

Producing a product in groups, or batches, e.g. clothes, bread.

Small quantities allow for :

• Incremental improvement of products
• Testing the market
• Seasonal demands
• Dealing with market fluctuation

The procution of large amounts of standardised products on production lines.

• Consumer demand for large quantities
• High profit margins
• Production line assembly

A continuous flow of production that is highly automated, e.g. bottling factories.

• Production in a continuous line
• Low pay, unskilled labour
• Fast and efficient for the manufacturer
• Uses computer control

Allows designers to own things they create. Designers can control people's use of IP and can gain reward from it. This encourages further innovation and creativity.

The four main types are:

Copyright

Design Rights

Patents

Trademarks

Patents protect the technical and functional aspects of products and processes.

Rights to the exclusive use of an invention can last for a maximum of 20 years if annual renewal fees are paid.

Protects the internal and external 
shape of a product - the product must be 3D.

Lasts either 10 years from first marketing, or 15 years form creation.

Exclusive to the UK

Protects the look and appearance of a product. It would cover a textile pattern, for example.

Up to 25 years protection in the UK and EU.

Tests which are objective, measurable, and can be assessed against specific performance criteria.

For example;

• Does the car drive at 50mph?
• Does the ski jacket repel water?
• Does the material weigh less than 5kg?

A more subjective (based on personal experience) form of testing.

For example;

• Is the material aesthetically pleasing?
• Is the material comfortable?

• Design details
• Shape/style
• Characteristics of material(s) used

Design points that tkae into account comfort, efficiency, safety, and ease of use of the product.

• Appropriately sized screen on phone
• Appropriate placement of functional pockets

The steps taken to ensure a product is of as high a build quality as possible, taken before manufacture.

• Testing possible manufacturing methods
• Testing materials for suitable characteristics and properties
• Ensuring appropriate training has taken place
• Planning how accuracy will be acheived (pattern pieces, jigs, templates)
• Planning Quality Control
• Planning timing, using a Gantt Chart

The steps taken to ensure a product is of as high a build quality as possible, taken during manufacture.

• Testing accuracy of manufacture
• Setting measurable, examinable targets
• Are seams sewn correctly?
• Have joints been made within the specified tolerance?

A structured process, which includes stages from the design brief to the successfull completion of a product.

Planning

Research

Specification

Prototype

Detailed Desiging (Man. Pack)

Quality Control/Assurance

A statement of what a not-yet-designed product is intended to do. Sets out targets and measruable criteria that meets the needs of the consumer.

Helps with designing - designer aims to meet spec. points, and evaluation - summatively evaluate at each step of designing.

Also known as manufacturing pack.

The details necessary for the manufacture of a product.

• Dimensions
• Materials
• Specific manufacturing processes
• Mould details/pattern pieces
  

To do the opposite, in terms of proportion, position, or arrangement of design details within an existing deisgn to create a new design.

For example, redrawing a bag with the right detail on the left.

Breaking down a product into its key features, then inserting these into a matrix and creating new combinations in order to create a new design.

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A new method, idea, or technology. Generated by market pull or technology push.

Can be small (incremental) or large (radical).

People with a vision for a new or existing product they wish to see succeed. They play a co-ordinating role between designers, manufacturers, and marketing experts.

For example, Richard Branson of Virgin.

The people who have the skills and initiative necessary to take good new ideas to market, and have the right ideas to make the idea profitable.

For example, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. 

Often fulfils the role of Product Champion, Entrepreneur, as well as creating new designs themselves.

For example, James Dyson, of Dyson.

Testing of prototypes in order to test their function.

1. Modelling materials
2. CAD modelling

Materials are modelled to make functioning prototypes to test the function of a product.

Traditional materials include paper, clay, cardboard, calico, foam, etc.

• Enables quick editing (saving time)
• A total 3D view of a product, regardless of real size
• Animation to show moving parts in motion 
• Looking at layers, prior to sending the product to be manufactured.
• Communicating the design to clients all over the world to recieve feedback, prior to manufacture.

• Assembly Planning
• Preparing for manufacture (planning tool paths, size and speed of cutter)
• Evaluting materials
• Scale drawings produced.