Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture

and Technology
EMG 2506:RE LECTURE NOTES
PRODUCT ANALYSIS
BY: James M. Mutua
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INTRO.
Product

It

can mean experts analyzing a product

or members of the general public or
potential customers/groups of people.
Product

analysis can take place at almost

any stage of the design process)
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analysis means asking questions

about a product and forming answers.

INTRODUCTION

Product analysis can be carried out by:

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1. An individual product being analyzed.

2. Alternatively a number of similar
products can be compared with each other
using the same criteria.

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THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCT ANALYSIS

A product may need analyzing by a

potential customer to help him/her
decide whether it is worth buying.

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A product may need analyzing so that

the design can be improved.
Sometimes a prototype or model may be
analysed. In this way improvements can
be made before the full sized, costly
product is manufactured.
J. Mutua

CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT ANALYSIS

WHAT IS A CRITERIA?
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When analyzing a product first prepare a

list of questions, this is known as a
criteria.
Take an example of a table. For example,
the criteria listed below could apply to the
table when it is being analysed.

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CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT ANALYSIS

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ERGONOMICS
Is the table the right size (height, length and
width). Will a potential customer need to
stretch too far when using the table? Will this
make it uncomfortable for the customer ?
COST
How much will it cost to manufacture the product
and how much will it sell for in the shops?
AESTHETICS
Does the product look good? Is it stylish? Is the
style to the customers liking.?
J. Mutua

CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT ANALYSIS

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CONSTRUCTION METHOD
How has the product been made? What joining
methods/ techniques have been used? Is the
product well constructed (will it fall apart when
in use? Will it scratch easily? etc.....)
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS
Is the product what the customer wants? What
changes are required to make the product
suitable for the client/customer? Does the
customer like the product?
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CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT ANALYSIS

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

Is the product safe? Does it fulfil Health and
Safety Laws?
COLOUR AND TEXTURE
Is the colour/texture of the product effective? Or
is it what the customer wants?
MATERIALS
Are the materials suitable for this type of
product? Are they quality materials or do they
make the product look cheap?
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CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT ANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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What is the environmental impact of the

product? Is it manufactured from materials
supplied by sustainable sources? For example, if
manufactured from natural woods have they
been supplied from sustainable forests?
Can the materials be recycled or reused?

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END

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Questions & Comments

J. Mutua

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Thank you for listening