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WorksheetsTopic 5.5 Product life cycle
Total questions: 55
Worksheet time: 38mins
What is an advantage of obsolescence to the consumer?
Cheaper products
Safer products
More innovative products
More durable products
Name one advantage of USB-C ports over USB-A ports.
USB-C ports allow for faster data transfer speeds compared to USB-A.
USB-C ports are only compatible with older devices.
USB-C ports require special drivers to function.
USB-C ports can only be used for charging, not data transfer.
Which of the following types of obsolescence will occur with the USB-A?
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
At which stage of a product’s life cycle are sales consistent?
A. Introduction
B. Growth
C. Maturity
D. Decline
Planned obsolescence is used to…
prevent radical changes in new products.
reduce the consumption of resources.
ensure new models of the product are sold.
prevent products from becoming iconic.
Marco Maran’s X3 Chair is elegant, flexible, strong and manufactured using innovative technologies. The chair is widely used in restaurants due to its low price and its particular characteristics. The price is approximately US$50.
The seat and back of the chair is created by bio-injection moulding. The chair is manufactured from a clear polycarbonate called Desmopan®.
Desmopan® is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer which has the strength of polyurethane, but the characteristics of rubber. The geometric arrangement in the structure gives the chair a distinctive look, structural strength and performance characteristics that many consumers like.
Which material is used to manufacture the X3 Chair?
Polypropylene
Desmopan®
Acrylic
Polyethylene
A company charges different prices for different models of the same product. What is the business practice the company is applying?
Competitive pricing
Product versioning
Price variation
Product generations
Which of the following describes the maturity phase in the product cycle?
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Apple has created multiple generations of their iPod, iPhone and iPad products. What is this strategy known as?
Adaptation
Product championing
Chance
Product versioning
State one relative advantage of the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen over the fountain pen.
does not need to be refilled; the body/barrel is transparent/can see the amount of ink left; simple to use; cheaper; lightweight (no need to carry the ink bottle)
requires frequent refilling; ink is expensive; difficult to use; heavy to carry
needs a special type of paper; cannot be used for long writing sessions; easily leaks ink
must be stored upright; ink dries out quickly; not suitable for everyday use
List two characteristics of the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen that make it a classic design.
mass production; ubiquitous (present/appearing/found everywhere); omnipresent (existed/in circulation for a long time); dominant design
limited edition; rare; expensive; luxury item
handcrafted; unique; custom-made; artisanal
short-lived; unpopular; discontinued; niche market
Calculate the total change in waste produced by BIC factories between 2019 and 2021.
100 tonnes
200 tonnes
300 tonnes
400 tonnes
Calculate the difference in total waste (in tonnes) between 2019 and 2021 using the following data: 0.22 (0.181 + 0.039 total waste in 2019) and 0.212 (0.180 + 0.032 total waste in 2021). Show your answer in tonnes.
0.008 tonnes
0.012 tonnes
0.010 tonnes
0.006 tonnes
BIC might use life cycle analysis (LCA) to help reduce waste by:
Identifying stages in the product life cycle where waste is generated and making improvements.
Increasing the price of their products.
Focusing only on marketing strategies.
Ignoring environmental impacts.
One way that BIC may have used psychological factor data in the design of the BIC® Cristal® Soft in Figure 4 is:
To make the pen more comfortable to hold, appealing to user comfort and satisfaction.
To reduce the cost of production for higher profits.
To increase the pen's weight for durability.
To use rare materials for exclusivity.
Product versioning can help extend the life cycle of a product by:
Introducing new features to attract different customer segments.
Reducing the price of the product.
Discontinuing the product early.
Ignoring customer feedback.
State the production system used by Zarpens.
Outline why multitask robots are used in the assembly of the Zarpens fountain pen.
Multi-task robots can perform more than one complex task; assemble parts with speed/efficiency/no errors/accuracy.
They are used because they require constant human supervision for every step.
They are preferred as they can only perform a single repetitive task.
They are used because they increase the number of errors in assembly.
Outline one reason why multitask robots are considered a clean technology.
Zarpens have used retro-styling to increase sales of the fountain pen because:
it appeals to nostalgia and attracts customers seeking classic designs.
it reduces production costs significantly.
it makes the pens more technologically advanced.
it limits the product to a niche market.
List two reasons why temporary joining techniques are used when a drone is assembled.
To allow for easy disassembly and adjustments during assembly
To provide permanent structural strength
To reduce the overall weight of the drone
To make the drone waterproof
Explain why finite element analysis (FEA) would be used in the development of the drone.
Explain two ways that drones can become obsolete.
1. Technological obsolescence 2. When a product is no longer needed or wanted (even though it is in good working order)
1. Increased battery life 2. Enhanced camera quality
1. Reduced manufacturing costs 2. Improved flight stability
1. More user-friendly controls 2. Expanded range capabilities
The study of human factors can be used to improve which aspects of the handset that controls the drone?
Comfort, safety, and performance
Battery life and range
Color and size only
Price and warranty
The study of human factors can be used to improve the comfort of the handset that controls the drone by:
1. Designing the shape to fit the user's hand
2. Using materials that are comfortable to hold
3. Placing controls within easy reach
Which of the following is NOT a way human factors can improve handset comfort?
Designing the shape to fit the user's hand
Using materials that are uncomfortable to hold
Placing controls within easy reach
Considering the weight for prolonged use
Which of the following is a way the study of human factors can be used to improve the safety of the handset that controls the drone?
By designing controls that are easy to use and understand
By making the handset heavier for stability
By reducing the number of safety features
By using random button placements
The study of human factors can be used to improve the performance of the handset that controls the drone by:
Making the handset more user-friendly and reducing operator errors.
Increasing the weight of the handset for stability.
Adding more complex controls to the handset.
Reducing the size of the display screen.
The electric light globe (bulb) was first produced in the ______ Century. (Fill in the blank)
19th
18th
20th
17th
(a) List two characteristics of a patent.
Any two of the following: - A patent protects a new product/invention/process/idea; - Lasts for a number of years/set period of time; - Prevents others from imitating intellectual property; - Can be used within geographical boundaries; - Is recognised by governments/protected by law;
A patent is only for artistic works and lasts forever.
A patent allows anyone to use the invention without permission.
A patent is not recognized by any government or law.
Explain the impact of innovators and innovation with relation to Edison’s light globe.
They led to the widespread use of electric lighting.
They stopped the development of new technologies.
They made candles more popular.
They had no effect on society.
The transparency and strength of the glass in Edison’s light globe have contributed to its success because:
They allow light to pass through and protect the filament.
They make the bulb heavier and more expensive.
They reduce the brightness of the bulb.
They make the bulb difficult to manufacture.
The transparency of the glass in Edison's light globe has contributed to its success in several ways. Which of the following is NOT one of those ways?
It allows light to pass through, illuminating the surroundings.
It enables people to see the glowing filament inside, demonstrating how it works.
It prevents the bulb from overheating by blocking all heat.
It helps distribute light evenly in all directions.
The strength of the glass in Edison's light globe contributed to its success in all of the following ways EXCEPT:
It prevented the globe from breaking easily.
It allowed the globe to withstand high temperatures.
It made the light globe extremely heavy and difficult to use.
It protected the filament inside the globe.
Planned obsolescence in a light globe can be influenced by which of the following factors?
Style, function, and sustainability in the design
Only the color of the light globe
The price of the light globe
The packaging material used
At which stage of the product life cycle might a company consider releasing a new generation of the product?
Launch
Growth
Maturity
Which type of obsolescence best describes a product that has been replaced due to changes of consumer tastes?
Planned
Style (fashion)
Technological
Function
Figure 1 shows design for environment software that can be used to analyse the environmental impact of a component using life cycle analysis (LCA).
True
False
State one reason why the product was designed to only last two years.
To encourage customers to buy replacements
To reduce manufacturing costs
To improve product quality
To comply with safety regulations
What is the total mass per unit of ABS according to the sustainability report?
(a)
What is the material unit cost of ABS according to the sustainability report?
(a)
What is the manufacturing region for the component according to the sustainability report?
Asia
Europe
North America
Africa
What is the manufacturing process used for the component according to the sustainability report?
What is the electricity consumption for manufacturing the component according to the sustainability report?
(a)
How long is the component designed to last according to the sustainability report?
2.0 years
1.0 year
5.0 years
10.0 years
What is the scrap rate for manufacturing the component according to the sustainability report?
2.0%
5.0%
0.5%
3.5%
What is the use region for the component according to the sustainability report?
North America
Europe
Asia
Australia
What percentage of the component is recycled at the end of its life according to the sustainability report?
(a)
What percentage of the component is incinerated at the end of its life according to the sustainability report?
(a)
What percentage of the component ends up in landfill at the end of its life according to the sustainability report?
(a)
Outline one reason why using injection moulding has resulted in a low estimated material unit cost.
Less material is wasted (through errors); by re-introducing excess plastic/high accuracy/consistency; injection moulding is suitable for shaping plastic material; ABS is an inexpensive material; high volume/high speed/continuous flow/24/7 method of production; takes advantage of economies of scale.
Injection moulding increases the cost of raw materials significantly.
Injection moulding requires a lot of manual labor, increasing costs.
Injection moulding is only suitable for producing a small number of products.
Finite element analysis (FEA) can be used during the manufacture of a component by injection moulding to:
Predict and optimize material flow and reduce defects.
Increase the melting temperature of the polymer.
Eliminate the need for mould design.
Replace the injection moulding process entirely.
FEA (Finite Element Analysis) could be used to further develop the process during the component’s manufacture by injection moulding because:
It helps predict and optimize material flow, reducing defects and improving product quality.
It increases the cost of production significantly.
It eliminates the need for any physical testing.
It is only used for aesthetic analysis.
Why would solid modelling rather than surface modelling have been used in the computer-aided design (CAD) development of the component designed in Figure 1?
Because solid modelling allows for accurate representation of mass and volume, which is important for engineering analysis.
Because surface modelling is always faster than solid modelling.
Because solid modelling cannot be used for complex shapes.
Because surface modelling provides more information about the internal structure.
Outline one possible impact on the sustainability report in Figure 2 if the material of the component is changed from a thermoplastic to a thermosetting plastic.
The component will become more easily recyclable.
The component will have a lower carbon footprint.
The component will be more difficult to recycle.
The component will be biodegradable.
One waste mitigation strategy the designer could use to reduce the percentage of ABS sent to landfill at the end of the product’s life is:
Incineration of ABS products
Recycling ABS materials
Disposing ABS in open landfills
Mixing ABS with general waste
