James Dyson Case Study free essay sample

Biography James Dyson was born on May 2 1947 in Cromer, Norfolk, England and attended the Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk during 1956 to 1965. Later on after he graduated from the school he attended the Byam Shaw School of Art for a year. Soon afterwards he enrolled in the Royal College of Art in London from 1966-1970 to study furniture and interior design courses that served as the starting foundation of his career as a designer. He later went on to study engineering. In 1997 he was awarded the Prince Phillip Designers Prize and in 2000 he received the Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award. James Dyson is a distinguished British industrial designer renown for his invention of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. In 2002 Dyson established the James Dyson Foundation to support design and engineering education among young people later on elected as a Fellow at The Royal Academy of Engineering. He had the honour of being appointed as a Knight Bachelor in the 2007 New Year Honours and remained the provost of the Royal College of Art since 2011. One of his original works was the ‘G-Force’ cleaner in 1983 but was disappointed at the lack of interest of manufacturers or distributors in his design, instead promoting his product in Japan. The product attracted more attention and gained more sales selling for 2000 yen and won the International Design Fair in Japan. Troubled by the unpopularity of his product in England he returned to establish his own manufacturing company. It’s here that he finally gained recognition of his product through a television advertisement with the slogan ‘say goodbye to the bag’ which attracted customers for the elimination of the vacuum bag than the suction. Original G-Force Cleaner Most innovative and successful of his works is the Dyson Dual Cyclone that produced a great deal of profit capturing 20% of the market in America 2002. It was deemed the fastest selling vacuum cleaner in the United Kingdom. Companies that have noticed his success have resorted to selling vacuum cleaners with cyclonic technology similar to his resulting in him suing Hoover UK for patent infringement. His work on vacuum cleaners progressed rapidly with developing new technologies such as the Ballbarrow concept for his Dyson Ball increasing the mobility of the vacuum. Dyson Airblade Hand Dryer Another renowned invention he has created is the Dyson Airblade in 2006 which was a hand dryer commonly found in public washrooms which was considered the most hygienic and efficient method of drying hands in seconds. A quote from James himself about the Airblade was â€Å"re-engineered scallop-shaped apertures mean that the two 60 km/h sheets of air carry less energy when they collide. It still dries hands in 10 seconds but is 50% quieter†. In 2009 he introduced ‘Air Multiplier’ technology that served as the real innovation in fans in more than 125 years. His work extended to other areas such as washing machines called the ‘ContraRotator’ but paled in comparison with his success in fan development. Since the establishment of his company he was well renowned for his continuous innovations in vacuum design with the Upright, Barrel and Handstick vacuum models, as well as handheld extras and utility tools. James Dyson’s Invention: The Dyson Barrel Vacuum To justify my choice of this invention I visited the homepage of James Dyson in http://www. dyson. com. au/Vacuums. aspx I firstly reviewed each of James Dyson’s three vacuum models which were the upright, barrel and handstick vacuums. After reading through the general overview of each product I analysed the plus and minuses of each model and decided on the Dyson Barrel Vacuum model for its compact design, high manoeuvrability on all surfaces whilst still maintaining a high degree of suction. Of this model it consists of two versions the DC54 and DC47, each with an inbuilt unique function which distinguishes itself from the other. The vacuum’s light f framework allows it to be placed aa adequately on the length of the p palm of an adult’s hand. Design brief of the design The initial need for this product was to design a vacuum which exhibits maximum sucking power without deteriorating over an elongated period of time. Normal vacuums exhume dust after vacuuming because of the dust bag’s contents that have to be released manually leading towards the issue of dust particles affecting allergen users and asthma sufferers. To resolve this need the vacuum would have to be bagless to reduce emptying hassle and also be ergonomically friendly for allergic users and asthma sufferers to hygienically use. Lastly the vacuum would also have to be aesthetically pleasing and contain a great deal of mobility for users to transport the vacuum easily around the environment. Overview Technological Features Dyson cyclones are proclaimed to be the most efficient and innovative brand of vacuum cleaners that capture dirt and microscopic dust more than any other vacuum with its cyclonic technology. Referring from the details of the video on the website, Dyson cyclones capture particles as small as 0. 5 microns for example pollen, mould spores and even bacteria eliminating blockage that occurs within conventional vacuums with cleaner bags and filters. The Barrel vacuum also contains a graspable handle for people to grip whilst vacuuming to avoid accidental dropping. Its industrial patented cyclone technology far surpasses other bagless vacuums that utilise cyclone with its ability to generate centrifugal forces of up to 360,000G. This immense wind pressure hurls dust and dirt from the airflow with particles as small as 0. 5 microns carried into the clear bin. This method prevents dust from infiltrating into the filter and ensures relentless suction. The key components of the vacuum is stored within the ball itself consisting of the electronics, polycarbonate air ducts and a 5 metre cable the motor, the pre-motor filter and providing up to 6. 5m of power cable. Along with this are the pivot point located near the centre of the machine, enabling it to make tighter turning circles and more easily follow the user’s path. The purpose of this design is to create a low centre of gravity and provide a great deal of balance for users to utilise. Environmental Factors An impact of vacuuming for allergy sufferers is when particles such as mould spores and pollen sucked up into the filter because of poor cyclone design. Thereby causing allergies through inhalation as the allergens are leaked from the machine when poorly conserved. Dyson vacuums are guaranteed the highest efficiency cyclones engineered to be airtight that ensures that the dust particles are captured into the clear bin and expel breathable air for allergic people. Finance Considered the most hygienic form of vacuuming, the Dyson Barrel Vacuum series has prospered in the marketing business and in exchange for its exceedingly high price it offers absolute quality in maintaining an ergonomic function of dust filtration and maximum suction performance. In fact some of its most convenient features also contribute towards its success, such as its push button method to release dirt, no extra costs because of its bagless feature, a 2 year guarantee for its durable properties and the bonus of extra tools for cleaning hard to reach places. Mobility and Versatility Factors All Dyson floor tools are engineered to deliver high suction and cleaning performance across all floor surfaces such as hard floors e. g. carpets and rugs. Dyson engineers have also invested in manufacturing floor tools to allow the Barrel vacuum to adapt to any task or narrow spaces which increases the versatility of the product. Some examples include the soft dusting brush which gently removes dust and allergens from delicate surfaces and upholstery, flexi crevice tool which extends to clean awkward gaps, the stubborn dirt brush that dislodges dried mud and ground-in dirt, tangle-free turbine tool for furniture and the articulating hard floor tool for removing dirt from wood and delicate floors. These general descriptions are what exemplify the qualities of the barrel vacuum that differentiates itself from the other vacuums. There are two versions of this vacuum which I organized into a PMI table listing the positives and negatives of each model. PMI of Dyson Barrel Vacuum Cleaners Model Plus Minus Interests Dyson DC54 Cinetic vacuum Maintains constant suction after sucking up 10 years worth of dust No filter maintenance No major clogging Ball technology incorporates steering mechanism for greater control and mobility Captures allergens, expels cleaner air Carbon fibre turbine engine head engineered for all floor types Bagless design Clear bin allows user to determine when the container is full from vacuuming Electrical cable short for vacuum when cleaning higher areas (stairs) Container capacity fills up quickly requiring constant emptying Waste sometimes stays in the unit around the cylinder and because of a narrow gap in the barrel, resorting to be pulled out manually (mainly with pet hair) Most expensive vacuum with price ranging from Animal Pro ($1,099), Animal ($999), Allergy ($899) and Multi Floor ($799) The DC54 model features high frequency oscillating tips that vibrate to prevent cyclone aperture clogging, eliminating filer maintenance. The vacuum’s anti static conductive carbon fibres removes dust from hard floors as well as removing ground-in dirt from carpets by utilising stiff nylon brushes. A static charge conducted from the filaments binds the dust to the floor allowing it to be sucked into the vacuum. This ensures that the carpet is unsoiled and retains a clean atmosphere even after vacuuming by trapping the dust particles. Vacuum has a maximum reach of 10 metres. Lastly there are four variations of the DC54 each suited to a specific purpose which are the Animal Pro, Animal, Allergy and Multi Floor. Dyson DC47 Compact design makes it able to be stored in small places Light ergonomic construction provides lighter weight of 6. 34kg Captures more microscopic dust through dual layers of smaller cyclones Easier to pull around Costs cheaper than the DC54 version with cost of $799. Retains hygienic design and quick to empty Smaller cyclones reduce airflow from vacuum. Along with DC54 container capacity fills up rapidly. Less reach than DC54 model with only a maximum reach of 8. 3 metres. The DC47 model sports lighter ergonomic design enabling users to efficiently carry it around the house for faster cleaning. Smaller cyclones achieve capture of microscopic dust through generating higher centrifugal forces. The ball’s agile design is because of its smooth surface with low friction bearings. What’s more is that its lightness allows an average person to carry around the house with a bodyweight of approximately 6. 34kg, ideal for people who live alone in flats or apartments. Impact of Innovation towards Australian Society Through devoting research and testing design solutions, Dyson has progressively refined the cyclone technology ever since it was developed more than 20 years ago. Both versions of this barrel vacuum are constructed with ABS polycarbonate which is similar material used in riot shields and crash helmets to provide durability for all household environments. All Dyson vacuums guarantee no extra expenses on replacement bags and filters which reduce monetary costs from users. This is accomplished through the ultra efficient Dyson Cinetic cyclones as well as its bagless feature. The Dyson Company is also affiliated with the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Sensitive Choice Program. The objective of this program was to aspire to aid customers in identifying products that are low irritant and low allergy. This is to reduce the instances of people being affected from allergic symptoms when using cleaning products. According to the webpage all Dyson vacuum cleaners are guaranteed for two years and extensive with proper handling and care. Because of its sophisticated design such as the electronics, motor and high frequency oscillating tips the company has created a non-obsolete vacuum for people to use In terms of aesthetics the creative and flawless design of the Dyson Barrel vacuum distinguishes itself from other vacuum cleaners with its round ball shape, cyclone conducting mechanism and clear bin, whereas other modern examples are usually rectangle in shape. The polycarbonate material provides a smooth surface for the vacuum and displays a polished shine finish on the surface. The sales of the product can stimulate the profits of the company and provide commercial welfare for the business and employees whilst helping customers to efficiently clean at home. With this funding they can afford to manufacture more products and possibly invent more potential designs for the model. Impact of the innovation towards the individual is once again to assist them with cleaning various types of spaces with the vacuum cleaner and the additional tools provided. Ethical Issues associated with Dyson Barrel Vacuum Production The ethical qualities associated with the production of the vacuum are mainly beneficial for people as it provides jobs for people to manufacture the product in the companies. Along with this is the genuine purpose of creating the product based on the design brief, which is to provide a high degree of suction without reducing over time as well. Dyson’s target audience was specifically allergen sufferers who require hygienic vacuuming to prevent asthma. Despite this the production of the vacuum also questions the morality to produce multiple versions of this product as it consumes more parts in the manufacturing of multiple copies of the designs. This is perhaps caused by a marketing scheme for the company to gain more money by charging greater amounts of money on other versions of the vacuum with only slight differences in its design. Use The ethical issue associated with its use is that the product is expensive because of its innovative technology, which is unaffordable for people who are asthma sufferers with a low income. In fact other models of the DC54 that are built for specific purposes are significantly more expensive than the standard model requiring the user to purchase with larger amounts of money. This could result in a dividing line between the rich people who are able to afford the vacuum and the less wealthy individuals who desperately need the vacuum more. The vacuum although manoeuvrable may become too heavy for smaller sized people to exert more effort when transporting around the house. There is also the ethical issue of manufacturing as the complicated design of the vacuum requires more time to construct than other vacuums because of its sophisticated technological components. Environmental Issues associated with Dyson Barrel Vacuum Production Environmental issues revolving around the innovation of the design is that it partly uses non-recyclable materials when constructed reducing the reusability of the product when discarded, causing pollution. Producing it from polycarbonate material may provide a lighter structure but much more difficult to repair rather than harder plastic or metal. The short term consequences involved is the selection of the materials as the vacuum consists of more than 3 materials used in its design which is mostly polycarbonate plastic and light metals. Use The environmental benefits of its use are that it’s hygienic and doesn’t release dust into the atmosphere unless emptied through the container when vacuuming. This is because it is engineered to contain the dust inside the compartment through the use of cyclonic technology. Dyson through devoting extensive research about design methods created the product to be innovative in its durability to last for a period of time with proper care avoiding non-obsolete structure. Although because of its innovative cyclonic technology it consumes a great deal of electricity especially for long periods of vacuuming around houses. This slowly but eventually leads to long term consequences involved with are global warming from greenhouse gases exhumed by electricity power plants because of the energy generated required by the vacuum. Two ways in which the design could incorporate current emerging technologies By exploring current emerging technologies the two methods that I would incorporate onto Dyson’s Barrel vacuum are dust particles detection sensor and implementing organic electronics as well implementing remote controlled functions when manufacturing the vacuum. How I could incorporate the dust sensor within the design is utilising a device with similar specifications from the Sharp GP2Y1010AU0Fwhich is an Optical Dust Sensor. Along with this is incorporating the Robomaid structure to the Dyson47. Optical Dust Sensor Referencing information extracted from the website it describes the product as a dust sensor with an optical sensing system. An infrared emitting diode (IRED) and a phototransistor are diagonally arranged into the device. This allows it to detect the reflected light of dust in the air and is especially effective in detecting fine particles like cigarette smoke. It can even distinguish smoke from house dust by pulse pattern of output voltage. The benefits of this product is that it has a very low current consumption (20mA max, 11mA typical), and can be powered with up to 7VDC. In addition the sensor is lead free and RoHS directive compliant which synergises well with the vacuum. Unfortunately there are some negatives associated with installing this product onto the vacuum such as dust adhesion in which the product fails to detect the dust density correctly causing the user to misjudge the amount of dust. The sensor output is also slightly influenced by noise from the power supply line and vibrations that change the value under mechanical oscillation. To justify combining this additional technology to the Dyson Barrel vacuum I deemed it an excellent technology that could aid users in seeking out nearby dust ridden areas through the infrared emitter and phototransistor. The device can be incorporated into the Dyson vacuum by adding another external port located on the side of the ball mechanism with the motor inside. Here the sensor can be installed by plugging into the vacuum with the wires and tapping into its electric reserves. The issue of noise from the power line is mostly with the innovative capsulation of the Dyson vacuum that radiates less noise than other vacuums. Another ideal combination with this sensor is to incorporate an indicator such as a sound signal code that triggers judged through the distance of the sensor detecting dust particles. For example in regular intervals when activated 1 beep means the sensor detects nearby dust density, 2 beeps means that the sensor is nearing the source and 3 beeps is when the vacuum has detected the dust source. In conclusion combining the Dyson model with the optical dusts sensor achieves greater accuracy in seeking out hidden dust particles. Remote Controlled Technology Reviewing the PMI of the Robomaid product from: http://www. robomaid. com. au/why-robomaid/ I was intrigued by the fact that the vacuum was fully remote controllable that issues commands creating an automatic vacuum. Unfortunately the exact details about the auto based construction of the Robomaid wasn’t listed in the official website but nevertheless was still a viable option. The vacuum contains an in-built UV light that kills bacteria, germs, dust mites and microscopic insects by emitting a UV light as it vacuums. Its construction consists of a helical spinning brush in conjunction with a sucking motor to lift dirt, dust and debris from floors. The size of the vacuum is 11. 5cm tall and 35cm in diameter that allows it to travel underneath couches and beds and into various hard to reach areas. What’s more is that it is also bagless and weighs just 3. 5kg making it easier to carry around. Its AI functions are extremely accurate in its ability to sense Implementing all of the technology from the Robomaid isn’t fully possible as it would compromise the functionality of the Dyson Barrel vacuum’s revolutionary sucking power and mobility since it is wired. But despite this implementing the remote controllable technology could bolster the automatic capabilities of the vacuum. Installing AI technology through the antenna and creating a vacuum head tool head with a helical spinning brush similar to the Robomaid design can imitate a similar aspect to its design. To justify my reason for choosing this emerging technology is energy efficiency methods. According to the website tests have produced results that the Robomaid uses substantially less energy being cheaper and environmental friendly than using normal vacuums. Applying this concept to the Dyson 47 model because of its light ergonomic design can resolve the environmental issue of its energy consumption and benefit individuals and community with reduced electricity usage and bills. To conclude this case study, James Dyson is truly an inspiration for me by exploring the functions of his design. The Dyson Barrel Vacuum is an incredibly efficient brand of vacuum that is both ergonomically and aesthetically oriented in its quirky â€Å"ball† design and innovative cyclone technology that eliminates bag use.