Step 1: Clarify the Problem
Clarifying the problem consists of developing a general understanding and then breaking the problem down into subproblems if necessary.
The mission statement for the project, the customer needs list, and the preliminary
product specification are the ideal inputs to the concept generation process, although often these pieces of information are still being refined as the concept generation phase
begins. Ideally the team has been involved both in the identification of the customer needs and in the setting of the target product specifications. Those members of the team who were not involved in these preceding steps should become familiar with the procee used and their results before concept generation activities begin. (See Chapter 5, Identifying Customer Needs, and Chapter 6, Product Specifications.)
As stated before, the challenge was to "design a better handheld roofing nailer." The scope of the design problem could have been defined more generally (e.g., "fasten roofing materials") or more specifically (e.g., "improve the speed of the existing pneumatic tool concept"). Some of the assumptions i n the team 's mission statement were:
• The nailer will use nails (as opposed to adhesives, screws, etc.).
The nailer will be compatible with nail magazines on existing tool s.
• The nailer will nail through roofing shingles into wood.
• The nailer will be handheld.
Based on the assumptions, the team had identified t he customer needs for a handheld nailer. These included:
• The nailer inserts nails in rapid succession.
• The nailer is lightweight.
• The nailer has no noticeable nailing delay after tripping the tool.
The team gathered supplemental information to clarify an d quantify the needs, such as the approximate energy and speed of the nailing. These basic needs were subsequently translated into target product specifications. The target specifications included the following:
• Nail lengths from 25 millimeters to 38 millimeters.
• Maximum nailing energy of 40 joules per nail.
• Nailing forces of up to 2,000 new tons.
• Peak nailing rate of one nail per second.
• Average nailing rate of I 2 nails per minute.
• Tool mass less than 4 kilograms.
• Maximum trigger delay of 0.25 second.