Ab. Aziz Shuaib

The Application of Computer Aided Design as Tool for Building User-Centered Design in Consumer Ceramics’ Product Development

This paper investigates the knowledge regarding how user-centre design can be built in ceramic consumer products. The paper gives the general overview of ceramics, computer-aided design and its application in ceramic product development. It also illuminates on product emotion, its influence on consumers’ behaviour and how it can be integrated into new product conceptualization. Furthermore, the paper analysed the systematic approach in building user-centred design in new product and also reveals how CAD can be used to achieve a user-centred design. In order to test the viability of CAD in achieving user-centred design, a study was performed where a CAD-model of a multi-functional ceramic pot was created and a questionnaire with the image (CAD model) and eight emotions was given to participants so as to know their emotional responses toward the product. The result from the study reveals the viability of computer aided design as tool for building user-centred design in consumer ceramics’ product development.

Hybridized Prototyping Process: A Contemporary Cultural Approach to Enhance Ceramic Production

The development of postmodern theory, are based on contemporary cultural thought and practice. That is; the eclectic mixture of any tradition with that of its immediate. Thus, Postmodernists artists have shown the taste for hybrids, which involves conjoining two different techniques or cultures across the units of time, background and place. This conjunction or creative binding (hybrid) enables the appreciation of both sides of the equation and their union. Therefore, this study employed a deductive and practice-led approach to determine how viable rapid prototyping technology can improve the production process. However, in order to avoid outright elimination of the artisanal skills, the study examines the viability of integrating the conventional skill and modern technology as hybrid technique. The findings from the study revealed that the integration of rapid prototyping and hand-turning (conventional technique) is a viable hybrid production technique that can reduce the development time drastically, enhance product quality and reduce the development cost reasonably in ceramic production.

Applying P-Diagram in Product Development Process: An Approach towards Design for Six Sigma

Successful business enterprises are to a great extent determined by strong sales and overall low operational cost; as a result, improving quality and reducing cost have been one of the important tasks for any business enterprise. These will help in achieving high quality products at reasonable price. Thus, due to the effectiveness of Six Sigma in improving quality and reducing cost, it has become an excellent initiative that is gaining momentum in the business world. However, academics have conducted little research regarding this phenomenon, especially on it applicability in manufacturing industries. Therefore, this paper seeks the knowledge regarding how P-Diagram Model (Taguchi Method) can be applied in product development stage to achieve Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). The paper illuminates on “Process” as the basic unit for Six Sigma and how production process can be enhanced using P-diagram. Following this understanding, the paper demonstrates how P-diagram can be applied in conceptualizing and developing product ideas that put into consideration users intent (User-centred design), reduce variations and thus, lower the risk of product failing.

Rapid Prototyping Technology: The Next Keystone for Small and Medium Ceramic Industry

Many manufacturers believe building of physical prototypes is a bottleneck that slows down production process and increase production cost. However, since the quest for reality ends up with making real objects, physical prototypes cannot be out-rightly eliminated in product development process. With the advent of rapid prototyping technology (3D printer), manufacturing is now possible at any scale, from units of one to millions, large or small batches. Thus, rapid prototyping is seen as a possible technology for enhancing product development process; especially in small and medium industries that relies on manual production techniques. Hence, this paper investigates the viability of rapid prototyping technology in small and medium industries. With particular reference to ceramic industry, the paper demonstrates how the contemporary technology (Rapid prototyping) can be harmoniously merged with conventional techniques, so as to enhance product quality and reduce development time and cost.

Enhancing Ceramic Product Value through Appropriate Production Techniques

Launching new products is an essential attributes of successful businesses as they survive and grow; and the ability to develop these new products to compete in existing or new markets is a core competency of many successful firms. The process of developing new products begins with a well conceived design, developed into prototype. In ceramics production, the manual process of developing product idea by hand turning or hand carving design concept in plaster is slow, inaccurate and demands skilled persons that are difficult to find and too much time consuming to train; thereby, tends to decrease product competitiveness. Thus, engaging technology, by developing and conducting test digitally, and generating rapid prototype from CAD model is seen as a viable approach that can help improve product quality and get product faster to market. Therefore, this paper seeks to investigate the viability of rapid prototyping technology in enhancing product value. The paper also illustrates on how designers can integrate aesthetic appeals in product by analyzing designs using PhiMATRIXTM Software.

The Viability of Digital and Rapid Prototyping in Enhancing Ceramics Product Development

This research practically investigates on how to reduce development time, development cost and also improve prototype quality in ceramic production. The researcher used an experimental approach, by first investigating and analysing the conventional method used by ceramics manufacturers in product development. This was achieved with several visits to three ceramic factories in Kelantan, Malaysia. After which a digital method was developed by introducing computer-aided design (CAD) into three stages in development process. In order to test the viability of the CAD introduced, the digital method was used to develop prototypes of ceramic products selected from the three ceramic factories. Finally, a comparison was done between conventional and digital method based on development time, development cost and prototype quality. This reveals that digital method can successfully reduce development time and improve prototype quality in ceramic product development process. However, the comparison also reveals that digital method is more expensive than the conventional method used by the factories in ceramic product development.