Archive:000/Manufacturing quality - Revision history

Elie: Elie moved page Manufacturing quality to Archive:000/Manufacturing quality without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

2024-10-26T20:29:50Z

Elie moved page Manufacturing quality to Archive:000/Manufacturing quality without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:29, 26 October 2024
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Elie: /* Methodology ideas */

2023-09-08T21:34:47Z

Methodology ideas

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:34, 8 September 2023
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	==Methodology ideas==		==Methodology ideas==
	We need to do some case studies using whatever data we can find. There are lots of ways we could analyze the data; here are a few possible ideas:		We need to do some '''case studies''' using whatever data we can find. There are lots of ways we could analyze the data; here are a few possible ideas:
	* '''Cost divided by lifespan:''' Pick some type of consumer good to analyze. Look at what's on the market (cheap models, expensive models) and maybe also what ''was'' on the market at some point (old models, especially ones that were really built to last). For each model, find some way to estimate the typical lifespan (either from specs given by the manufacturer, or from empirical data from consumer usage{{x\|might be hard to find; worst case, just use your own anecdotal experience of the product; better than no data at all, as long as you're transparent about how the data was obtained}}, or from both). For each model, divide its price{{x\|corrected for inflation, in the case of old models}} by its lifespan, to get a sort of "cents per day" estimate. This is all based in the assumption that costs (or maybe wholesale prices) are a reasonably accurate reflection of the resources that went into a product.		* '''Cost divided by lifespan:''' Pick some type of consumer good to analyze. Look at what's on the market (cheap models, expensive models) and maybe also what ''was'' on the market at some point (old models, especially ones that were really built to last). For each model, find some way to estimate the typical lifespan (either from specs given by the manufacturer, or from empirical data from consumer usage{{x\|might be hard to find; worst case, just use your own anecdotal experience of the product; better than no data at all, as long as you're transparent about how the data was obtained}}, or from both). For each model, divide its price{{x\|corrected for inflation, in the case of old models}} by its lifespan, to get a sort of "cents per day" estimate. This is all based in the assumption that costs (or maybe wholesale prices) are a reasonably accurate reflection of the resources that went into a product.
	* '''Full life cycle analysis''' involving materials, labor, energy (or carbon emissions assuming the energy mix comes from mainly fossil fuels). {{en}} This may be hard to find.		* '''Full life cycle analysis''' involving materials, labor, energy (or carbon emissions assuming the energy mix comes from mainly fossil fuels). {{en}} This may be hard to find.

Elie at 21:26, 8 September 2023

2023-09-08T21:26:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:26, 8 September 2023
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	In conversations about how we live in a wasteful society, someone will usually mention that nowadays, things are not built to last - stuff wears out quickly, creating ~~more~~ '''waste'''.		In conversations about how we live in a wasteful society, someone will usually mention that nowadays, things are not built to last - stuff wears out quickly, creating unnecessary '''waste'''.

	<big>Save the planet by manufacturing higher-'''quality''' stuff, perhaps?</big>		<big>Save the planet by manufacturing higher-'''quality''' stuff, perhaps?</big>

			But is this really true? In which cases? To what extent?

	~~But in what cases is this really true?~~ Keep in mind that there's a tradeoff here: A higher-quality product takes more ''resources'' to make (specifically: [[energy]], [[materials]], and [[labor]]). This is reflected in the higher price. Also, keep in mind that some people tend to replace goods [[home waste\|long before they're actually worn out]]. But in any case, there's probably some ''optimal level'' of manufacturing quality that would minimize resource usage in the long run. Maybe most of today's consumer goods are ''below'' that optimal quality level?		<small>Keep in mind that there's a '''tradeoff''' here: A higher-quality product takes more ''resources'' to make (specifically: [[energy]], [[materials]], and [[labor]]). This is reflected in the higher price. Also, keep in mind that some people tend to replace goods [[home waste\|long before they're actually worn out]]. But in any case, there's probably some ''optimal level'' of manufacturing quality that would minimize resource usage in the long run. Maybe most of today's consumer goods are ''below'' that optimal quality level?</small>


	'''''This is a page to gather some answers''' to these questions.''		'''''This is a page to gather some answers''' to these questions.''
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	==Methodology ideas==		==Methodology ideas==
	We need to do some case studies using whatever data we can find. There are lots of ways we could analyze the data; here are ~~some~~ possible ideas:		We need to do some case studies using whatever data we can find. There are lots of ways we could analyze the data; here are a few possible ideas:
	* '''Cost divided by lifespan:''' Pick some type of consumer good to analyze. Look at what's on the market (cheap models, expensive models) and maybe also what ''was'' on the market at some point (old models, especially ones that were really built to last). For each model, find some way to estimate the typical lifespan (either from specs given by the manufacturer, or from empirical data from consumer usage{{x\|might be hard to find; worst case, just use your own anecdotal experience of the product; better than no data at all, as long as you're transparent about how the data was obtained}}, or from both). For each model, divide its price{{x\|corrected for inflation, in the case of old models}} by its lifespan, to get a sort of "cents per day" estimate. This is all based in the assumption that costs (or maybe wholesale prices) are a reasonably accurate reflection of the resources that went into a product.		* '''Cost divided by lifespan:''' Pick some type of consumer good to analyze. Look at what's on the market (cheap models, expensive models) and maybe also what ''was'' on the market at some point (old models, especially ones that were really built to last). For each model, find some way to estimate the typical lifespan (either from specs given by the manufacturer, or from empirical data from consumer usage{{x\|might be hard to find; worst case, just use your own anecdotal experience of the product; better than no data at all, as long as you're transparent about how the data was obtained}}, or from both). For each model, divide its price{{x\|corrected for inflation, in the case of old models}} by its lifespan, to get a sort of "cents per day" estimate. This is all based in the assumption that costs (or maybe wholesale prices) are a reasonably accurate reflection of the resources that went into a product.
	* ~~{{light\|~~'''Full life cycle analysis''' involving materials, labor, energy (or carbon emissions assuming the energy mix comes from mainly fossil fuels). {{en}} This may be hard to find.}}		* '''Full life cycle analysis''' involving materials, labor, energy (or carbon emissions assuming the energy mix comes from mainly fossil fuels). {{en}} This may be hard to find.
	* '''Material physics:''' Consider how the thickness of a material would affect its deterioration rate under a given dynamic load. Apply this to whatever kind of product you want to analyze. This would give a sense of how much a product's lifespan could be improved by making it more "heavy duty".		* '''Material physics:''' Consider how the thickness of a material would affect its deterioration rate under a given dynamic load. Apply this to whatever kind of product you want to analyze. This would give a sense of how much a product's lifespan could be improved by making it more "heavy duty".
	* '''Find existing reports''' already published in science journals, ~~<!--from industry researchers?-->~~ analyzing tradeoffs of manufacturing quality. It may be hard to find publicly-available data, if most of it is kept as trade secrets. But it's worth a try.		* '''Find existing reports''' already published in science journals, analyzing tradeoffs of manufacturing quality. It may be hard to find publicly-available data, if most of it is kept as trade secrets. But it's worth a try.

	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[Planned obsolescence]]		* [[Planned obsolescence]]
	* [[Frugalism]]		* [[Frugalism]]

Elie: Created page with "In conversations about how we live in a wasteful society, someone will usually mention that nowadays, things are not built to last - stuff wears out quickly, creating more '''waste'''. Save the planet by manufacturing higher-'''quality''' stuff, perhaps? But in what cases is this really true? Keep in mind that there's a tradeoff here: A higher-quality product takes more ''resources'' to make (specifically: energy, materials, and labor). This is..."

2023-09-08T21:04:22Z

Created page with "In conversations about how we live in a wasteful society, someone will usually mention that nowadays, things are not built to last - stuff wears out quickly, creating more '''waste'''. <big>Save the planet by manufacturing higher-'''quality''' stuff, perhaps?</big> But in what cases is this really true? Keep in mind that there's a tradeoff here: A higher-quality product takes more ''resources'' to make (specifically: energy, materials, and labor). This is..."

New page

In conversations about how we live in a wasteful society, someone will usually mention that nowadays, things are not built to last - stuff wears out quickly, creating more '''waste'''.

<big>Save the planet by manufacturing higher-'''quality''' stuff, perhaps?</big>

But in what cases is this really true? Keep in mind that there's a tradeoff here: A higher-quality product takes more ''resources'' to make (specifically: [[energy]], [[materials]], and [[labor]]). This is reflected in the higher price. Also, keep in mind that some people tend to replace goods [[home waste|long before they're actually worn out]]. But in any case, there's probably some ''optimal level'' of manufacturing quality that would minimize resource usage in the long run. Maybe most of today's consumer goods are ''below'' that optimal quality level?

'''''This is a page to gather some answers''' to these questions.''

==Case studies==
{{empty}}

==Methodology ideas==
We need to do some case studies using whatever data we can find. There are lots of ways we could analyze the data; here are some possible ideas:
* '''Cost divided by lifespan:''' Pick some type of consumer good to analyze. Look at what's on the market (cheap models, expensive models) and maybe also what ''was'' on the market at some point (old models, especially ones that were really built to last). For each model, find some way to estimate the typical lifespan (either from specs given by the manufacturer, or from empirical data from consumer usage{{x|might be hard to find; worst case, just use your own anecdotal experience of the product; better than no data at all, as long as you're transparent about how the data was obtained}}, or from both). For each model, divide its price{{x|corrected for inflation, in the case of old models}} by its lifespan, to get a sort of "cents per day" estimate. This is all based in the assumption that costs (or maybe wholesale prices) are a reasonably accurate reflection of the resources that went into a product.
* {{light|'''Full life cycle analysis''' involving materials, labor, energy (or carbon emissions assuming the energy mix comes from mainly fossil fuels). {{en}} This may be hard to find.}}
* '''Material physics:''' Consider how the thickness of a material would affect its deterioration rate under a given dynamic load. Apply this to whatever kind of product you want to analyze. This would give a sense of how much a product's lifespan could be improved by making it more "heavy duty".
* '''Find existing reports''' already published in science journals,  analyzing tradeoffs of manufacturing quality. It may be hard to find publicly-available data, if most of it is kept as trade secrets. But it's worth a try.

==See also==
* [[Planned obsolescence]]
* [[Frugalism]]