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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.
Reducing costs can be beneficial to the environment. For instance, using cheaper recycled materials, which leads to a cheaper final product, is both an advantage to the manufacturer and customer. This approach also helps reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing.

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:
We all have the responsibility to use sustainable materials when manufacturing, to protect the environment. I bought my materials from a retailer, who guarantees that they are from a sustainable source. This means that for every tree cut down at least one is planted. Also, I used ‘plastics’ that have been recycled OR can be recycled, when my product reaches the end of its useful working lifetime.

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:
Before manufacturing my product, I carefully planned how the materials were prepared so that waste was kept to a minimum.

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 selected good quality materials.

I bought quality ..........

This means my product will withstand knocks and drops and resist damage.
My product will have a long working life, reducing the need for the customer to buy a replacement product. In the long run, this will reduce costs to the customer.

 

I DESIGNED A REPAIRABLE PRODUCT:
I have designed my product so that it can be repaired, rather than scrapped or recycled. The product can be dismantled with minimum use of tools and equipment and then damaged parts can be replaced.

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:
When manufacturing my product, I made the following changes to the design, to reduce overall costs and to save materials............

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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