Week 3

Week 3 {29.4.2021}

Timeline

Idea Generation -Scamper🧠

Feasibility Analysis👌🏻

COWS decision matrix🐮

 Idea generation-scamper🧠

 

Last week, we said we wanted to make the coffee tastier, we all knew that some of the people said that coffee is bitter. According to the research and literature review, the reason for the coffee being bitter is the different acid level that is present in the coffee, so we need to have something that reduces or indicates the acid.

Today, we were taught the SCAMPER method that helps us to create a new innovative product. SCAMPER is the acronym of Substitution, Combination, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse

 

We need to apply the SCAMPER method, in our idea generation. This would be done based on an existing product that we have chosen. After idea generation, we then have to narrow down our solutions to select the best ideas based on the Feasibility analysis method.

Figure 1: Scamper acronym, visual paradigm

 

Our product selected is a coffee maker.

 

 

Substitute

• Substitute heating coil to a material with a lower specific heat capacity such that the temperature will rise higher given the same amount of energy consumed. making it more efficient
• Substitute lid material to a more insulating material to reduce the heat loss but convection and conduction to the surrounding air.

Combine

• Combine (place side to side, with a layer of conductive material binding it) the portion of the tube coming from the water reservoir with the portion exiting such heat that would have been lost to the surroundings would instead preheat the water going to the heater, increasing efficiency.

Adapt

• Make the rubber tubing wrap around the heating coil more, to increase the duty, reduces heat loss to the surrounding, and also allows more gain in heat in the water
• Adapt the base of the jug to contain a metal plate similar to that of a boiler which connects itself to a round base for electricity to pass. by doing so, we allow the heat of the heating element to be ore directly transferred to the base of the jug for heating

Modify

• Use a better insulation material between the filter and the nozzle in which water exits from. so as to keep the temperature of water at a higher level to allow more dissolving of coffee powder
• Increase the surface area of the coil to allow heat to spread evenly throughout the metal plate so that the coffee can be heated up evenly.

Put to another use

• * Hole to be drilled through the strainer holder, and have a suitable closing mechanism* The nozzle can also serve as a cleaning function for the leftover coffee grinds, washing the coffee grinds out through the hole
• Replace the top lid that used to release vapor with a relief valve to regulate the pressure of the vapor so it can open and close automatically to reduce heat loss.

Eliminate

• eliminate the hole present on the top of the lid, to allow more heat to remain trapped inside for better separation of coffee solubles

Reverse

• Allow the heating of water to be at the nozzle instead of heating it at the base of the coffee maker by adding 2 additional layers to the nozzle. The first layer is the nozzle, the second layer is the heating element and the third layer is the insulation.

 

Feasibility Analysis👌🏻

We then learned about making use of feasibility analysis to help us decide whether the option or idea is viable. This is based on the practicality of the idea itself and it helps us to view our solution and idea from another point of view. An idea may seem very like a very good solution to the problem but this may not be true in terms of tools/money/time/space needed to execute the idea. Hence, we will be evaluating the ideas based on the budget, project timeline, technical feasibility as well as operational feasibility.

Idea 1: Substitute heating coil to a material with a lower specific heat capacity such that the temperature will rise higher given the same amount of energy consumed, making it more efficient.	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?		✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 2  : Substitute lid material to a more insulating material to reduce the heat loss via convection and conduction to the surrounding air	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 3 : Combine (place side to side, with a layer of conductive material binding it) the portion of the tube coming from the water reservoir with the portion exiting such heat that would have been lost to the surroundings would will instead pre heat the water going to the heater, increasing efficiency	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 4: Make the rubber tubing wrap around the heating coil more, to increase the duty reduces heat loss to the surrounding and also allows more gain in heat in the water	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

Idea 5:  dapt the base of the jug to contain a metal plate similar to that of a boiler which connects itself to a round base for electricity to pass. by doing so, we allow the heat of the heating element to be ore directly transferred to the base of the jug for heating	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?		✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 6: Use a better insulation material between the filter and the nozzle in which water exits from so as to keep the temperature of water at a higher level to allow more dissolving of coffee powder	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

Idea 7: Increase surface area of the coil to allow heat to spread evenly throughout the metal plate so that the coffee can be heated up evenly.	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 8 : Hole to be drilled through the strainer holder, and have a suitable closing mechanism* The nozzle can also serve as a cleaning function for the left over coffee grinds, washing the coffee grinds out through the hole	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 9: Replace the top lid that used to release vapor by a relief valve to regulate the pressure of the vapor so it can open and close automatically to reduce heat loss.	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 10: Eliminate the hole present on the top of the lid, to allow more heat to remain trapped inside for better separation of coffee solubles	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Idea 11: Allow the heating of water to be at the nozzle instead of heating it at the base of the coffee maker by adding 2 additional layers to the nozzle. The first layer is the nozzle, the second layer is the heating element and the third layer is the insulation.	YES	NO
Budget -              Less than S$2000?	✔️
Project Timeline          - Can be completed within one semester?	✔️
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔️
·       Are the required utilities available?	✔️
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✔️
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔️
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔️
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔️
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔️
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✔️
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔️

 

Based on the feasibility analysis our group has shortlisted idea 1, idea 3, and idea 9.

TO further narrow down our ideas, we made use of the COWS decision matrix. A method we learned in our Year 1 module, Materials for design. 

COWS decision matrix

C – Criteria. Develop a hierarchy of criteria, also known as the decision model.

 

O – Identify the options, also known as solutions or alternatives.

 

W – Assign a weightage to each criterion based on its importance in the final decision. 

 

S – Rate each option on a ratio scale by assigning it a score of 1 to 3 based on each criterion. The final score is calculated as Rating x Weight.