REFINEMENT
SCAMPER-
The SCAMPER meathod allowed for me to think of a ton of different improvemnets I could add to my Lazy Susan Shelf. The SCAMPER method is an acronym for different topics which are, substitute, combine, adapt, modify/ magnify, put to other use, eliminate, and reverse/ rearrange. Then within each topic are questions you can ask yourself to improve an item. I asked myself a plethora of different questions in each category and took note of each idea I came up with. For each topic I came up with an average of 9 different improvements.
Substitute: For this topic I answered a bunch of questions like…
-What can I replace or change for parts?
-Can I use other ingredients or materials?
-Can I change its shape?
-Can I change its color, roughness, sound or smell?
-What if I change its name?
-Can the packaging be changed?
-Can I use a different energy source?
From these questions a couple of my favorite ideas where, using a carbon fiber material instead, so it’s super light and strong. Renaming it too something more catchy. Then my favorite idea was to add a nob on the front of the shelf that can be used to turn the the lazy susan. This idea was thought of by Jessica in my group when she gave me feedback. Below is a more detailed drawing.
Combine: I only answered a couple of questions for this subject. The three questions I asked myself were…
-What ideas or parts can be combined?
-Can I combine or merge it with other objects?
-What can be combined to maximize the number of uses?
My favorite responses I came up with while answering these questions were, a plastic or paper bag dispenser inside the shelf to maximize its uses. A net that goes on the back of the shelf so nothing will ever fall behind the shelf to a lower level. Then my favorite which is combining a roll-out shelf which already exists with my Lazy Susan Shelf for even easier access to items. A more clear imagie is provided below.
Adapt: Questions that I responded to for this section were…
-What else is like it?
-Is there something similar, but in a different context?
-What ideas could I incorporate?
-What different contexts can I put my concept in?
-What ideas outside my field can I incorporate?
The ideas that ended up being my favorite for this section were a air freshener built into the shelf for really smelly foods like garlic or onions. My favorite idea that I redrew below was a lighting system for the bottom of the shelf so, when you pull-out the shelf below it you could clearly see what you are grabbing at.
Magnify/ Modify: I also answered a ton of questions for this topic. The questions I responded to were…
-What can be extended?
-Can it be done faster?
-What can be magnified or made larger?
-What can be made higher, bigger or stronger?
-Can I add extra features or somehow add extra value?
-Can it be used more often?
From my responses to these questions some of my favorite answers were, a wooden extension beneath the shelf to create more room for items. Motorizing the roll-out shelf mechanism to save the users energy. Then my most helpful idea from this category was to enlarge the lazy susan pads, to maximize the amount of items you can put on the shelf. A better representation of this is below.
Put to other use: This is the fifth topic and the questions I asked were… -What else can it be used for?
-How would a child use it? An older person?
-Are there other possible uses if it’s modified?
-If I knew nothing about it, would I figure out the purpose of this idea?
-Can I use this idea in other markets or industries?
Of these question I really liked thinking of ideas for how a child could use this and thought of ideas for how they can figure it out. First I thought I could add arrows to the lazy susan pads to show which direction they move. An alternative use I thought about for this product was for a cleaning supply closet. Then back to ideas for kids, my favorite idea from this section was chalkboard labels on the front of the shelfs, to identify which products go on what shelf. Below is an example.
Eliminate: Eliminate was the second to last category, and the questions I asked were…
-How can I simplify it?
-Can I compact or make it smaller?
-Should I split it into different parts?
-What feature can I understate or omit?
After answering these questions my favorite ideas I came up with were, having the shelf be able to slide into itself to become more compact for shipping. Making the shelf easily movable within the pantry to set different heights. Then my absolute favorite was putting a hinge in the middle of the shelf so it can fold in half and there would not be as much packaging needed.
Reverse/ Rearrange: This was the last topic and the questions I asked were…
-What other arrangement might be better? Changing Layout?
-Can I interchange components?
-Should I turn it around? Up instead of down? Down instead of up?
-What if I consider it backwards? Inside out?
I did not think these questions were particularly helpful for my product most of them, made my product useless. My favorite idea I came up with from this section, was being able detach the lazy susan pads, incase you have to clean out garbage or crumbs from the cracks. Below is a better picture of this.
TRIZ-
After using the SCAMPER method above by asking questions, now I used the TRIZ method. The TRIZ is…
“A problem-solving, analysis and forecasting tool derived from the study of patterns of invention in the global patent literature” -Wikipedia
While using the TRIZ method my first task was too change my problem statement into a contradiction. My problem statement from my old blog was…
“How might we make putting groceries away faster and easier?”
I decided to update this problem statement to…
“How might we be able to find the correct grocery item location in your pantry faster and easier?”
This update made my problem statement just a little more specific. Then I changed the new problem statement into a contradiction. The contradiction statement I came up with was…
“The solution needs to involve finding an item faster BUT there can not be a lot of user energy wasted moving objects.”
From this contradiction, I could find my problem parameters. I determined my desired effect to be speed. Then the undesired effect was a waste of energy. Next I used my problem parameters and loacated thee location where they both intersected. The location where they intersected determines multiple key innovative principels. The ones that were related to my problem parameters were, spheroidality, periodic action, continuity of useful action, and parameter changes. I chose to focus on periodic action as my key innovative principle, which is…
“A vibration is a constant series of energy bursts. We can also put gaps between those energy bursts to create Periodic action. If you are using continuous force, pulsed energy can be more effective”
Once I knew more about my key innovative principle I started coming up with ideas to help improve my product.
1. Then my second idea was while you pull the roll-out shelf out the lazy susan is designed to pulse in a quarter rotation. I thought this would be helpful for consumers, so they are able to start looking at items while pulling out the shelf.
2. My first idea was for the roll-out shelf to pulsate itslef out with a motor, I thought this idea might be helpful since it would save some energy.
3. My third idea was for the lights underneath the shelf to pulsate. I thought this would be helpful since it would also save some energy.
4. My fourth idea was for the lazy susan to be able to pulse clockwise then back counter clockwise. This would help consumers if they saw an item, they could redetermine where their desired product is.
5. My fifth idea was to have a buttom on the shelf and when it is pressed the lazy susan rotates only a quarter of the way on comand. I thought this would be very helpful, since it would be easily controllable, help you spot your items faster, and with less of a hassle.
After going through all my ideas I determined that my fifth idea was the best one and drew a clear picture below.
PRESENTATION MATERIAL-
The last part of this project was to create two slides that will be used while I pitch my product. The first slide will deal with the problem and target market, then the second slide will be more about the solutions and the product over all. On my first slide I added, all the current issues people have with their current pantry shelf, the problem statement, the current state of the art, and the target market.
On my second slide I added the final drawing of my product of how I want it to look, and function. I used arrows and text to describe each peice. Then at the bottom I used text to really sell my product, and describe why it is the best!
TIMELINE:
Scamper 11/18–19
Triz 11/20–24
Presentation Material 11/25-28
Turn in blog 11/29
Peer reviews 12/1
