Problem Set 3
EMA 4714 - Materials Selection and Failure Analysis
Due Wednesday, January 30, 2008- 9:20 AM
Dieter Exercise 2.5
Take ten minutes and individually write down small things in your life, or aspects of
products that you use, that bother you. You can just name the product, or better yet, give
an attribute of the product that “bugs you”. Be as specific as you can. You are really
creating a needs list. Combine this with other lists prepared by members of your design
team. Perhaps you have created an idea for an invention.
Dieter Exercise 2.7
A focus group of housewives was convened to show them an innovative clothespin and
ask what characteristics they want in a clothespin. The comments were as follows:
It needs to grip tightly.
I have arthritis. They shouldn’t be too hard to open or close.
I don’t like pins that get tangled in my clothes basket.
It better not stain the clothes.
If I’m going to buy new clothespins at that price, they better last a long time.
I don’t want them to look shabby after long use.
Translate these customer requirements into engineering characteristics of the product.