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MY ECONOMIC USE OF MATERIALS |
V.Ryan © 2015 |
It is important to consider costs and economics at every stage of design, product development, prototyping and manufacturing. A client / customer will have a significant view on costs and potential profits, which is usually emphasised at the beginning of the design process. Reducing costs, without a reduction in the quality of a product, should be the aim of every designer. Further to this, the economic necessity to reduce costs and customer pressure on manufacturers to protect the environment, often leads to innovation in design. |
EXAMPLES OF REDUCING COSTS |
RECYCLED MATERIALS: When manufacturing my product I used quality recycled materials, where possible. The materials were cheaper than new materials. Using recycled materials was a contribution to protecting the environment. I used recycled materials for the following parts / components................ |
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS: These are the sustainable materials I used........ |
ENERGY CONSUMPTION - MANUFACTURE: At all stages of manufacture, I have tried to reduce the consumption of energy. Machines in use have been turned off and hand tools and equipment have been used where possible. Therefore, the cost of manufacture has been reduced. |
ENERGY CONSUMPTION - LIFETIME USE: Many products require electricity to work. Ensure that electrical devices are energy efficient and that they turn themselves off, when not in use. |
I REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS REQUIRED: For example......... Any waste materials were placed in the recycle bins, so that other people could use them in their projects or for models. |
USING CARD TEMPLATES: I required four MDF shapes for my product, all the same size and shape. I used a card template to draw round, on a MDF board. I was able to minimise the distance / waste between each of the parts, by adjusting the position of the template. This saved materials and ensured very little waste, saving money and keeping the price of the finished product low. |
I USED QUALITY MATERIALS: I bought quality .......... This means my product will withstand knocks and drops and resist damage. |
I DESIGNED A REPAIRABLE PRODUCT: When I was manufacturing my product, I modified the design with repairs in mind. The modifications were ................... |
I RETHOUGHT / MODIFIED MY PRODUCT TO SAVE MATERIALS AND REDUCE COSTS: E.G. I reduced the number of parts, making the product more efficient. E.G. I used cheaper recycled materials for the following parts...... |
The following sheets are examples of how a student can present an ‘Economical use of Materials’ sheet, for a design folder. Pictures / photographs can be added to support the written information and to enhance the presentation. |
LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT PAGES |
1. Manufacturing Products and Reducing Waste |
2. Manufacturing Products and Reducing Waste - Using Accurate Templates |
3. Dealing with Waste - Reuse / Recycle |
4. Training / Educating Staff about the Importance of Reducing Waste |
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