Question

At my work, we often have multiple & different components from multiple suppliers that we use to solve it down to tubing to make IV administration sets for hospitals. Each component supplier has its own unique set of dimensions where we are to bond to the tubing. We have tried to standardize the outside diameter of the tubing so that we have universal dimensions that work for three tiers of dimensions and components. It is important to take into consideration the ease of assembly from the operators perspective as well as the ergonomic perspective. We often implement for new components and products as observational study to ask operators the level of difficulty to bond to each new component using the standard dimensions.

Thus, we typically associate a new component to be compatible with our process if he gets a rating of 7.5 (scale of 1-10) or better. This could be turned into a design experiment if we were to try and optimize the tubing outside diameter for each individual component. Multiple tubing outside diameters could be used and tested for a given component and then physically tested to determine bond strength as well as evaluated for me and ease of a simile use on a scale of 1 to 10. By doing so, we would ultimately be able to decide upon which tubing dimension would be optimal for each component and be able to piece together a finished product with preferred bonds.

State whether this observable experiment could become a designed experience.

Describe how you would design the experiment.

Answer 1

Design is a plan to show the look and functioning of a machine or other object before it is manufactured.

While designing two tubes which have to mate to provide a strong fit, we can initially specify dimensions on both mating parts such that they provide the best fit when they are manufactured and installed.

If the above option is not possible then we cacn look for other options. Here, as one tube is already installed and other tube will be fit on that. We can specifically order the size that fits, for instance if the nominal diameter of existing tube is 30mm, then we can order for tubes which have diameter of 30^+0.0 to 30^+0.1 or any other apt value which provides best fit according to the application or process of use.

We can then give rating according to the closeness of nominal diameter value of the ordered tube to the existing tube. The best fit shall be rated as 10(implying best fit). For instance in the above case for nominal diamter of 30 mm, say we are using the tube to carry poisionus gas, then in such case the tube that fits should have diameter of 30mm which will be giving a rating of 10 and the maximum allowable value of diameter could be 30.1 which could be rated as 7.5. So, any value falling in between can be accepted, others will be rejected.

Depending on scenario or type of operation used we could give rating and choose the value.

We can alternately design a guage, go-guage and a no go-guage. As the name suggests the if any tube passes through a go-guage it should be selected for fitting, and if the tube passes through no go-guage it should be rejected. For unskilled workers this is the best option. They will just check the provided component against the guage and make a wise decision in short amount of time.