Objectives

• performance --does the product meet customer needs

?

• reliability -- does the product meet the customer's expectations for useful life and fredome from repairs?

• ease of use--user friendliness

• safety

• aesthetics

• materials -- are materials durable, inexpensive, readily available

• construction

• cost -- is the customer willing to pay the price?

3. Explain how the criteria used to evaluate products will vary depending on the purpose of the evaluation. For example, crash-testing cars is done in relation to safety only.

4. Apply the general criteria to evaluate products. Explain the use of qualitative and/or quantitative tests, models and experiments used to evaluate ideas at the design development stage (developing chosen solution) of the design cycle.

• scale models to evaluate shape, form and proportion

• materials tests

• construction technique tests

• focus groups--asthetics and user friendliness

• disadvantage--an overwhelming amount of data can become too time consuming to evaluate

• advantage--

• advantage: “user” is a non-specialist, which makes trials easier and cost-effective.

• disadvantage: users may carry out tasks in different ways from those expected and be inexperienced.

• advantage: data is relatively easy and cheap to obtain

• disadvantage: data is largely qualitative.

10. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using expert appraisal to collect data. For example, expert knowledge and advice are gained (compared to a user trial), but the expert may be biased. It may also be difficult to locate an expert. Data is usually qualitative.

• cost-effectiveness.

• quality control

• quality assurance.

• performance test.

• value for money.

13. Explain the importance of cost effectiveness to manufacturers. In order to maximize profit, manufacturers require the most cost-effective production system. This is often the major aim of the brief for designers.

14. Compare quality control with quality assurance for manufactured products.

15. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using a field trial to collect data.

• disadvantage: usually quite extensive exercises, so can be expensive

• advantage: tested in marketplace

• advantage:  data different from lab-based evaluations.

• price is too high: not enough potential purchasers who can afford it or think the product is value for money.

• price is too low: consumers may think the product is too cheap to have much value.

• maximum price: generally established by demand

• minimum price: determined by costs of production

• price may be set in relation to its competitors

• price may be set in accordance with the perceived value of the product.

18. Explain how consumers apply criteria to evaluate a product for value for money, referring to before purchase, purchase, initial use and long-term use. Before purchase: advertising, manufacturer’s specification, list price, product image, and evaluation by experts and consumer groups. Purchase: aesthetics, performance, build quality and purchase price. Initial use: actual performance, safety and ease of use. Long-term use: reliability, ease of maintenance, durability and running costs.

19. Discuss how the criteria in 7.3.3 are assigned different weightings depending on the design context. Value judgments play a part in product analysis, and they vary according to the individual, the time (era) and the circumstances. Consumers often value utility, security, availability, rarity and aesthetics, while designers may consider function, reliability and ease of maintenance more important.

20. Explain the relevance of quality assurance to consumers.