1.

Designing a New Product or Service (Group 1/3/5/7)

In this project you will design a new product or service to satisfy a currently unsatisfied need.
Follow the general design process discussed in various books. That is, complete the following
steps:

1. Idea Generation - Come up with an idea by talking with people, observing people,
reading current publications, and brainstorming. This works much better in a group.
You may also conduct surveys if you like Write down a list of possible product or
service concepts. Remember, the concepts should fulfill a need.
2. Feasibility Studies - Conduct market, economic and technical feasibility studies on
each proposed concept. These studies should be full of facts. For example, you might
use the Internet to search for similar products or services already on the market, or to
converse with potential customers. You will need to determine a target market and a
target price. Also, estimate how much it will cost to produce this product or provide
this service. The technical feasibility should assess whether you have or can acquire
the skills to actually build the product or perform the service, and whether you can do
those things within the time constraints of a semester. Choose one concept to develop
further. Create performance specifications for what you want the product to do or the
customer to experience.
3. Preliminary Design - In this stage, you should build, test, and revise prototype
products or services. Consider both form and functional design. Record expectations
for quality, reliability and maintainability. Consider how the product will be made or
service delivered as part of the design. .
4. Final Design - Finalize your choice of material and other resources. Write detailed
product or service specifications. Construct a product structure diagram and bill of
material. Include instructions for manufacture or delivery.
5. Present your design (if possible) - For a new product, build a physical prototype
that you can bring to class and demonstrate. For a service, perform the service during
class or bring a videotape of the service being performed outside of class. Include an
evaluation mechanism so that you can capture your classmates valuable input.
6. Final written report - Prepare a written report that chronicles the steps you took in
designing the product or service, and all data sources, charts, and analysis techniques
used. Critically assess the potential for your product or service. Incorporate the
feedback you received from class.

2. Designing a Productive System (Group 8,9,11,2)

Directions:

1. Choose a simple product that can be easily assembled from commonplace material.
2. Follow the product from its inception through production to distribution.
3. Construct a flowchart of the events you identify in the production process.
4. For each of the following decisions, record the alternatives you have generated in making
each decision and justify the choice you made.

Decisions:

1. Product design
 Form and functional design
Consider reliability, maintainability, and standardization
Provide detailed product specifications
2. Process design
how the product will be produced
Consider equipment and manpower needs. Use flowcharts and assembly charts.
Design jobs, decide work methods, develop work measurement techniques.
3. Facility design
Layout the facility for optimum productivity
Balance the assembly line, if applicable
4. Operations
Schedule your productive activity
Design useful production charts (ex. Gantt). Actually go through a trial production
process. Record your plans and progress. Evaluate your results.

This project requires reading, research, experimentation, and imagination. The outline above is
just a guideyou may expand it in any area that particularly interests you.

3. Understanding Service Operations (Group 4,12,6,10)

Explanation:

The field of operations management has outgrown the factory floor. Applications of operations
management concepts, models, and techniques are widespread among virtually all of todays
modern organizations. It is your task to examine the types of operations problems faced by a
service organization. You should be able to relate class topics to what you find in the field.
Obviously, this is not purely a research projectsome creative thinking and footwork is
involved.

Suggested Topics:

1. Fast food establishment

2. Bank
3. Law enforcement agency
4. University
5. Hospital
6. City Government
7. Grocery store or other retail establishment
8. Aviation firm (Jet / Spicejet etc.)
9. Office administration
10. Construction or Architectural firm
11. Your choice (subject to approval by instructor)