Year 12

Product Investigation

Coursework

• The first product you are going to investigate is a drinks bottle. I would like you to choose your own drinks bottle and think it wise if you all have a different bottle. The bottle must have a suitable alternative that is made using different materials and manufacturing processes.– Coke - Fanta - Sprite - Dr. Pepper – Lilt

Main product and second product photos

• 1st Page – 1st Product – – You must take multiple photos of the product you have

chosen (empty) from all different views and display them in a suitable format. A small written section must explain what the photos are – Chosen product shown in different views etc.

• 2nd Product –• The same thing again multiple photos of alternative product,

different views. Small explanationYou must take good quality close up photos, it is with the

macro setting on your camera. If you do not have this bring your products in and you can use the school camera.

Performance analysis• 3rd Page - Both products are to be analysed

against the following criteria on this page– Form - The shape and structure of an object– Function - The action for which the object is

particularly fitted or employed– User requirements

• Set it up as a tablePhotos of product Photo of main here Photo of second

hereForm Write up Write up

Function Write up Write up

User Requirements Write up Write up

If you leave a space to the left of the table you can sketch the different parts that you are analysing in the boxes to the right. Sketches must be directly related to the analysis you are writing.

Section A – Performance Analysis

Relevant sketches to show the different

specific parts of the

product you are

discussing.

Performance analysis• 4th Page - Both products are to be analysed against the following

criteria on this page– Performance analysis – How easy is it to consume the fluids? Does the

material protect the fluid/contents? Does it stand easily? Is it easy to open get to the fluid?

– Material and components requirement – What materials has it been made from – How why are they suitable? Within that talk about the manufacturing processes. Why is the material suitable for the manufacturing process chosen? You must talk about all materials used to create the product.

– Scale of production and cost – What is the scale of production? The manufacturing processes used may determine the scale of production. Large quantities – cheap/expensive? All components need to be done – lid/label/bottle etc. You may discuss how the scale of production/manufacturing process’s may have had an impact on the cost of the product. Talk about how the process may be expensive/inexpensive. If lots of them are made, it lowers the price of the manufacturing process etc…

• Set it up as a table (as the last one)

Performance analysis – Section A

• 5th Page – Similarities and Differences – – The best way will be to set it up as a neat table – you DO NOT

have to do it as a table if you can think of a more creative way• All 6 headings from previous 2 sheets need to be used to

compare the two products against one another– What is similar/ different -

• Bases• Holding fluid – how much• Label/carton/can aesthetics – message it gives• Materials• What Scales of production – cost implications• Shapes of products• Lid/access• Damage• Ease of use

Headings Similarities Photo of products

Differences

Performance analysis – section A

Section B - Materials– 6TH Page

• Component – Material – Alternative – Environmental ImpactComponents - Bottle – Cap – Label

• Materials - Talk about all strengths of the material • Alternative - Choose a suitable alternative, talk about both strengths and

weaknesses• Environmental Impact – Impacts of the actual material that has been used

not the alternative – Extraction of raw materials– Energy to make in factories – Pollution – Electricity – Errors– Transportation– Consumer disposing of the product

Component Material Alternative Environmental Impact

Bottle

Cap

Label

Section C - Manufacture– 7th Page -

• Manufacturing process – Talk about all the benefits of the process• Alternative – Find a suitable alternative process

– Vacuum forming– Rotational moulding– Offset Lithography

• Environmental Impact– Impacts of the manufacturing process that has been used not the alternative – Set up cost– Energy to make the component– Pollution – Electricity – Errors– Workers– Quality checks

Component Manufacturing process

Alternative Environmental Impact

Bottle

Cap

Label

Section D – Quality control and Quality assurance x2Set it out as below (8th page)

Quality Control

Bottle(Blow moulding)

Preparation

Process

Finish

Cap(Injection Moulding)

Preparation

Process

Finish

Label(Flexography)

Preparation

Process

Finish

What to include (These are not headings!!)You must say what the benefits of each check will be and where possible how the

check could be made

• Preparation –– Selection of plastic– Cleaned– Colour– Mould sizes– Machine set up – Temperature, hold etc– Printing set up

• Process– Alignment in machine– Mould – connection to machine – Temperature– Jams when printing– Ink levels/leakages

• Finish– Cleaned– Flash produced on the machine from leakages if mould isn’t closed properly– Sprue produced from production – where the plastic goes into the mould– Size– Foreign objects– Colour checked – Alignment on the product

Section D – Quality control and Quality assurance x2Set it out as below (9th page)

Quality assurance

Preparation

Processing

Assembly

Finishing

After sales

In this box briefly explain the importance of the label

Insert image of label here

Recycle logo

Nutrient InformationBrand logo

Ingredients tableCE mark – Made in GB

Takes up ¾ - 2/3 of the page

Takes up ¼ - 1/3 of the page

What to include (These are not headings) After each explain the importance of each area

• Preparation– Check enough raw materials– Checking batch orders for amount of materials

• Processing– Quality control checks– Testing

• Assembly– Testing materials - performance– Testing – performance – each part– Tolerances – checking a batch

• Finishing– Boxing for shipping – quantity for sales– Standard of packaging

• After sales– Printed with quality standards mark – why?

• Label table – Should only take up the bottom ¼ - 2/3 of the page. Include:– What does each symbol inform the customer about and why is it there? What is the

importance of each of the parts on the label?