INTRODUCTION
A product or a service starts with design. A key component of the design process is to determine if a product or service can be offered at a price point that will produce a profit for a company. This unit focuses on the different processes a company can utilize to design a product or service. Concepts covered include, break even analysis, benchmarking, reverse engineering, concurrent engineering, as well as others that are considered best practices by companies who lead in their industry. A key consideration in design is any cost or environmental impact affecting sustainability concerns.
TOGGLE DRAWERHIDE FULL INTRODUCTION
The current fast-paced economy has shortened the product life cycle, by forcing companies to update more often in order to serve their customers and stay ahead of the competition. One tool used by many companies to help maintain an advantage is the flow chart. This tool allows companies to diagram out all the processes needed to deliver their products. The flow chart diagram gives the visual flow of the work down to the simplest step in the process. It allows management to constantly review the processes to see where bottlenecks occur and to help determine how they can improve the process.
A final consideration in this unit looks at the ways in which companies strive to improve the work environment for their employees and enhance sustainability concerns. People are a company’s number one resource, and management must take care of their employees to grow and maintain industry leadership.
OBJECTIVES
To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:
Use a flow chart to analyze the characteristics of a product or service.
Apply a break even analysis tool to your product or service.
Identify the key elements of the job design.
[u02s1] Unit 2 Study 1
Studies
Readings
Read Chapter 3, “Product Design and Process Selection,” and Chapter 11, “Work System Design,” in the Reid and Sanders textbook.
BREAK EVEN ANALYSIS
Resources
Break Even Analysis Scoring Guide.
Complete problem 2 page 92 and problem 8 on page 93 of your textbook. For help on how to complete these problems, see the Solved Problems on pages 90–91. When completed, submit your answers as an attachment in the assignment area. Be sure to include your work with the answer.