Social and Environmental Factors Considered for Quality Development Notes
Product analysis is the process of identifying, looking at or disassembling a product and identifying its main features. The aim is to understand more about a product and improveit in the future.
Some of the factors that affect the development of the product are
Cost
The cost of the product and labour required to manufacture the product. The price potential customers are prepared to pay for the product.
Ergonomics
The product may be designed for human use. It is the science and art of fitting the work place.
Materials
The availability of the materials and the development of new, hi-technology materials will have an influence on the final of the product.
Customer requirement
The customer will have an influence over the way the product id designed and developed. As a product is designed it is normal for potential customers to be questioned about the type of product or design that they prefer. For ex, when design a mobile phone a design team will show potential customers several designs and make changes according to their likes and dislikes.
Industrial production
All products are manufactures through one of the following manufacturing techniques Single item Beach Production.
Continuous production
When designing a product the most desirable production techniques may influence thew way the final product looks.
Company Identity
The product may have to display the company image. Most companies are proud of their public image. This may determine the colour scheme, applied to the product, the way it looks or even the materials that are used in its manufacture.
Aesthetics
The shape and form of the product may determine the layout of circuits or mechanisms etc., inside it. Product are often designed to look stylish. The style applied to the outside of the product can quite easily influence the technology inside it. Aesthetics can also alter the production or manufacturing techniques through which it is made.
Fashion
The fashion of the time influences the design of product, usually people want to buy up to date items not based on last years look.
Culture
Some products are aimed at different cultures and countries a product acceptable in one culture may be looked up one as offensive or less desirable in another. The use of colours and colour scheme are good example.
Functions
The number of functions a product has to perform will inevitably affect its design. Exactly what is the product going to do.
Environment
Many people are concerned about their environmental and the damages to it caused by industrial production. When designing a product it may be wise to ensure that the materials can be recycled or the product itself can be manufactured from a large proportion of recycled material.
