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| PRODUCT ANALYSIS | |
| V. Ryan © 2009 | |
| PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE WORKSHEET BASED ON INFORMATION BELOW | |
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| Product analysis can take
different forms but in general it means asking questions about a product
and forming answers. It can mean experts analysing a product or members of
the general public or potential customers/groups of people. Product
analysis can take place at almost any stage of the design process. Product analysis can be carried out by: 1. An individual product being analysed. 2. Alternatively a number of similar products can be compared with each other using the same criteria. |
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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
PRODUCT ANALYSIS? A product may need analysing by a potential customer to help him/her decide whether it is worth buying. A product may need analysing so that the design can be improved. Sometimes a prototype or model may be analysed. In this way improvements can be made before the full sized, costly product is manufactured. |
| WHAT IS A CRITERIA? When analysing a product first prepare a list of questions, this is known as a criteria. Look at the table (above). For example, the criteria listed below could apply to the table when it is being analysed. |
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| ERGONOMICS Is the table the right size(height, length and width). Will a potential customer need to stretch too far when using the table? Will this make it uncomfortable for the customer? |
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| COST How much will it cost to manufacture the product and how much will it sell for in the shops? |
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| AESTHETICS Does the product look good? Is it stylish? Is the style to the customers liking.? |
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| CONSTRUCTION METHOD How has the product been made? What joining methods/ techniques have been used? Is the product well constructed (will it fall apart when in use? Will it scratch easily? etc.....) |
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| CLIENT REQUIREMENTS Is the product what the customer wants? What changes are required to make the product suitable for the client/customer? Does the customer like the product? |
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| HEALTH AND SAFETY Is the product safe? Does it fulfil Health and Safety Laws? |
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| COLOUR AND TEXTURE Is the colour/texture of the product effective? Or is it what the customer wants? |
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| MATERIALS Are the materials suitable for this type of product? Are they quality materials or do they make the product look cheap? |
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| ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT What is the environmental impact of the product? Is it manufactured from materials supplied by sustainable sources? For example, if manufactured from natural woods have they been supplied from sustainable forests? Can the materials be recycled or reused? |
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