Week 3

We are told that internalizing of documentation is very important. And we should document everything we do on each lesson to help us reflect and visualize each activity that was done.

~~~~~

We already have an idea in our mind but how can we do it better and what else can we do?

While we were struggling with this question, we learned something new in today's lesson which is SCAMPER!

So, what is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an acronym for

S = Substitute

 Substituting part of the problem/product/process for something else. 

C = Combine

 combining two or more parts of your probortunity (= merging of the word “problem” and “opportunity”) to achieve a different product/process or to enhance synergy. 

A = Adapt 

Which parts of the problem/product/process could be adapted to remove the probortunity or think how you could change the nature of it. 

M = Modify 

Changing part or all of the current situation, or to distort it in an unusual way. 

P = Put to another use

 How you might be able to put your current solution/ product/process to other purposes, or think of what you could reuse from somewhere else in order to solve your own probortunity. 

E = Eliminate

 What might happen if you eliminated various parts of the product/process/probortunity. 

R = Reverse 

Think of what you would do if part of your probortunity/product/process worked in reverse or done in a different order. 

~~~~~~

We then use SCAMPER to help us generate different chemical ideas.

1. Preparing fried food without the need of Deep-Frying.

2. Elimination of fats and oils from food products when preparing.

3. Instead of being used to prepare food, such as deep-frying, it can also be used to bake pastry.

4. An appliance that can be used in all sorts of food preparation.

5. Prepare food without the use of oil.

6. Prepare food using the convection of air theory.

7. An appliance that does not cost a lot.

8. An appliance that is efficient compared to a microwave.

~~~~~~~

We used the feasibility analysis to screen out impractical ideas from our SCAMPER exercise

Feasibility Analysis

Idea : use microwave	YES	NO
Budget -        Less than S$2000?	✔
Project Timeline    - Can be completed within one semester?	✔
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·        Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔
·        Are the required utilities available?	✔
·        Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?		✔
·        Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔
·        Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?		✔
·        Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔
Operational Feasibility
a.      Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔
b.      Is it legal to operate the project?	✔
c.      Is it safe to operate the project?	✔

 

Idea : use air fryer	YES	NO
Budget -        Less than S$2000?	✔
Project Timeline    - Can be completed within one semester?	✔
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·        Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔
·        Are the required utilities available?	✔
·        Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?		✔
·        Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔
·        Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?		✔
·        Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔
Operational Feasibility
d.      Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔
e.      Is it legal to operate the project?	✔
f.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔

 

 

 

Idea : use oven	YES	NO
Budget -        Less than S$2000?	✔
Project Timeline    - Can be completed within one semester?	✔
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·        Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✔
·        Are the required utilities available?	✔
·        Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?		✔
·        Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✔
·        Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✔
·        Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✔
Operational Feasibility
g.      Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✔
h.      Is it legal to operate the project?	✔
i.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✔

We used COWS matrix to select most suitable devices.

But, what is COWS matrix? 

It is a simple decision making formula where the suitable devices are compared with each other and the best is selected based on whichever device has the best score.

Criteria-relevance

Options-all feasible

Weighting-contextualize

Score-assessment

information for the devices

-An average modern oven using 2400watts on medium to high heat and the price of it was 350 dollar and up

-An average modern microwave using 1200watts on medium to high heat and the price of it was 400 dollar and up

-An average modern air fryer using 1000watts of electricity and the price of it was  70 dollar and up.

Criteria	Weightages	Options
		Idea #1 Microwave		Idea #2 Air fryer		Idea #3 Oven
		Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score
a.    Cost-effectiveness	20	1	20	3	90	2	40
b.    practicality	30	1	30	3	90	2	60
c.    portability	20	1	20	3	60	2	40
d.    power saving	30	2	60	3	90	1	30
Score			130		330		170

We decided to select Air Fryer as it had the highest score compared to the other Ideas, It is the highest based on score for Cost-Effectiveness, Practicality, Portability and Power Saving, compared to the other ideas where they have low scores of 1 and 2.

Reflection:

We learned about SCAMPER, feasibility analysis where we thought of 3 ideas and discussed on the feasibility of the idea. And finally we recalled how to use the COWS decision matrix in deciding on the best suitable product.

References:

Energyusecalculator.com. 2021. Electricity usage of a Microwave - Energy Use Calculator. [online] Available at: <https://energyusecalculator.com/electricity_microwave.htm#:~:text=Compact%20microwaves%20use%20between%20500,will%20use%20around%201200%20watts> [Accessed 12 May 2021].

Homeadvisor.com. n.d. Learn how much it costs to Install an Oven.. [online] Available at: <https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/kitchens/oven-installation/> [Accessed 12 May 2021].