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Optimizing product use

Improvement <- ( A: raw material intensive, B: manufacture intensive ) <-

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product
Has the product been well adapted to the user’s real needs?
  
  
Exactly what requirements should the product fulfill? What is the main purpose of the product? Is there sufficient demand?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Realize user-oriented product aiming at a high frequency of use
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is handling of the product simple, and is its use largely self-explanatory?
  
  
Which of the controls are absolutely necessary, which are dispensable? How can handling be made more simple?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Design product for easy handling
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Has the product been designed ergonomically?
  
  
What biomechanical, physiological, and psychological aspects have been taken into account in designing the product? What are the conditions of use of the product? What are, therefore, the requirements concerning handling?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Design interface man-machine ergonomically
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is handling of the product adaptable to different users and to various conditions of use?
  
  
What are the conditions of use of the product? What adjustment features are required for the product?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Design product for optimal adaptability to different users
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is the space requirement to store the product when not in use as small as possible?
  
  
How often will the product be in use? What is the space requirement of the product when in use? And when it is not in use? What possible space saving solutions are there?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Minimize space requirement for storage of product when not in use
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Does the product need only little expenditure of time/work (e.g. cleaning) before and after use (set-up, cleaning, take-down, storing are simple)?
  
  
What quantities of which resources are required for the preparation and follow-up (cleaning....) involved in using the product? What is the time requirement before and after product use?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Minimize time requirement for preparation and follow-up of product use
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline


Approach to assessment:
  1. Relevance:
    Rate the relevance of the assessment question with a view to your product. (10...very important for my product; 5...less important for my product; 0...not relevant for my product).
  2. Fullfilment:
    Estimate the fulfilment of the assessment questions using one of the four possible answers (yes / rather yes / rather no / no); the additional questions support understanding of the assessment question and need not be answered.
  3. Priority:
    Select ECODESIGN tasks with high priority (P) and continue only with these.
  4. Idea for Realization:
    Find ideas to realize these ECODESIGN tasks. The content of the learning part with its examples shall assist you in doing that.
  5. Feasibility:
    Evaluate the feasibility of the suggested ideas (difficult / easy).
  6. Costs:
    Compare the costs of the new ideas with a reference situation (higher / same / lower) and give reason for that.
  7. Action:
    Decide when to carry out the ECODESIGN tasks (at once / later / never) and determine the person or department that shall be in charge of further steps in the realizing the product improvements and fix a deadline.
  8. Save:
    Save the checklist to document the ECODESIGN assessment.

 

top design & copyright © Vienna TU, Institute for Engineering Design - ECODESIGN

Realize user-oriented product aiming at a high frequency of use

Products that, once produced are not used afterwards, are not environmentally sound, even if manufacture was based on environmentally acceptable criteria; resources and energy have already bee used up for manufacture and transportation. With a view to an efficient use of resources ECODESIGN should therefore always bear in mind the real demand. Car-sharing would be a good example for an efficient use of resources; a group of 10 – 15 persons share one car.


Design product for easy handling

If functionality is the main concern in product design one has to deal with the issue of kind and frequency of use and easy handling. Actual use and frequency of use are essential criteria for the benefit of a product and the resources used for its manufacture. For this purpose, use of the product should be self-explanatory, and the product should clearly show its potential functions and the way it works. This can be realized by ensuring simple handling of the product.


Design interface man-machine ergonomically

Ergonomics also have a bearing on the total consumption of resources used for a product. The overall environmental performance of a product also depends on actual use during its service life; ergonomically poor design will cause the user to discontinue use of the product or to prematurely discard it.


Design product for optimal adaptability to different users

As products are usually produced for different users and different conditions of use, adaptability of the product (e.g. adequate height adjustment, etc.) constitutes an important feature. Individual adaptability and ergonomic design are to ensure that users like to use or work with the product for a long period of time.


Minimize space requirement for storage of product when not in use

Many products are needed and used on rare occasions or in special situation. When they are not in use, however, it is important – not only for environmental reasons - that their space requirement for storing is as small as possible; they would otherwise block precious floor space. Approaches to space saving consist in solutions using stackable or collapsible elements or transferring to other spaces (e.g. joint use of a washing machine in the basement).


Minimize time requirement for preparation and follow-up of product use

This refers to the input of preparatory and follow-up work needed to be able to use the product. This includes the input before, during, and after use, such as set-up time, work time for the actual use of the product, and follow-up activities such as take-down, cleaning, stowing away, storing. Apart from the resources involved (e.g. cleansing agents,...) the time required for these activities is an important factor, which determines whether or not the product is actually used and whether the input of resources yields any benefit.