Keywords Flashcards
planned obsolescence
made to last a limited time, e.g a BIC biro pen or a disposable razor
anthropometrics
the study of human measurements
ergonomics
making sure that the product/environment work efficiently, how comfortable, easy something is to use
manufacturing tolerance
an acceptable amount of difference from standards (sizes), e.g 5+/-mm
quality assurance
the system set up to make sure products are always faultless
quality control
checking products/components meet the specifications
consumer pull/market pull
when consumers and their wants/needs drive the development of new products
technology push
science/research drives new product development
sustainability
MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS TOMORROW.
A sustainable process or material is one that can be used without causing permanent damage to the environment or using up finite resources.
finishing techniques
making surface suitable for use: protection from dirt/damage, or to enhance the aesthetics
standard stock form
the forms/sizes you purchase materials in e.g rods, granules
design protection/patents
legal protection for the product invention being copied
production line
making/manufacturing products using an efficient system often in a factory environment, step by step process
risk assessment
assessing the dangers when working
product modelling
making models to assess shape and form - usually from cheap, readily available materials
prototype
a very detailed working model
design features
areas which need careful consideration
design movement
styles in history or the present which have similar features e.g colour, shape, inspiration e.g Memphis/Art Deco
just in time (JIT) production
relating to mass production, parts arrive just when needed for a specific order, they are not held in storage in a warehouse
stock control
managing materials throughout the production
bar code
a machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines in varying width, printed on a commodity and used especially for stock control
design criteria
features which must be included to make a product successful
renewable material/resource
a material that comes from plants or animals e.g parana pine, leather
non-renewable material/resource
a raw material that cannot be replaced e.g oil, coal, natural gas
smart material
materials which change their properties in response to the environment
material properties
how materials perform in use e.g toughness, flexility, stiffness
product marketing
how companies try to sell their products e.g advertising, handing out free samples
brand identity
making customers aware of a company, the associations/expectations of that company
scale of production
a number of products made together (mass/batch/continuous)
product evolution
how products develop over time (think mobile phones)
BSI kite mark (British Standards Institute)
the product has been tested independently by the BSI for quality and safety, this product can display a kitemark.
Conformité Européene symbol (CE)
self-awarded, the product has been tested by the manufacturer, the product meets minimum European standards (lower than the kite mark)
composite material
a combination of a metrix and a reinforcement, which when combined gives properties of the indvidual components e.g concrete, GRP
flat pack
a piece of furniture or other equipment that is in solid pieces packed flat in a box for easy transport and is assembled by the buyer
knock down fittings (KD fittings)
fittings are those that can be put together easily, normally using only a screw driver, a drill, a mallet/hammer and other basic tools - they are temporary joints although many are used to permanently join together items such as cabinets and other pieces of furniture that are purchased in flat pack
one-off/custom production
making a single, often unique and bespoke product e.g crafted furniture
batch production
the production method used to make a specific number of identical products e.g bread
mass production
used to make a larger number of identical products on a production line e.g cars
continous production
always making large amounts of a product non-stop, e.g standard components
automated manufacture
manufacturing which runs continuously with the aid of machines and robots, no human intervention