Life Cycle of a Product
Life Cycle Timeline
The first step of the product life cycle is raise & extract. In this step the raw material is grown and extracted. This step relies on energy to help extract the raw material. T-shirts are made of cotton, so cotton must be grown and extracted to make the t-shirts.
The next step of the product life cycle is process. In this step the raw material from the first step is refined into a useable material, using energy to do so. For cotton, it is taken to a cotton mill where it is processed into rope, yarn or fabric. The processed cotton is what's used to make the t-shirt.
The next step of the product life cycle is manufacture. In this step the processed rope, yarn or fabric from the processing step is cut, assembled, bleached and then possibly dyed different colors. This part of the life cycle is mostly done by machines.
The next step of the product life cycle use. In this step the product (t-shirt), is shipped to stores and is put up for sale and when it is bought it is worn.
The final step of the product life cycle is dispose. In this step you can either recycle the product or you can dispose it and contribute to the massive build up of garbage in the world.
The next step of the product life cycle is process. In this step the raw material from the first step is refined into a useable material, using energy to do so. For cotton, it is taken to a cotton mill where it is processed into rope, yarn or fabric. The processed cotton is what's used to make the t-shirt.
The next step of the product life cycle is manufacture. In this step the processed rope, yarn or fabric from the processing step is cut, assembled, bleached and then possibly dyed different colors. This part of the life cycle is mostly done by machines.
The next step of the product life cycle use. In this step the product (t-shirt), is shipped to stores and is put up for sale and when it is bought it is worn.
The final step of the product life cycle is dispose. In this step you can either recycle the product or you can dispose it and contribute to the massive build up of garbage in the world.
Ways to Recycle
There are many ways to recycle a cotton t-shirt. Two examples are using scraps of old t shirts to make quilts and dog / cat toys.
Conclusion
a. What is meant product life cycle? A product life cycle is the process by which a product is made, used and disposed(or recycled).
b. Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a product's life cycle? The companies should be designing products that are reusable and recyclable so that the amount of trash isn't added to.
c. What would you change about your product? Why? I don't know what I would change ... you can't change much in a cotton t - shirt.
d. Do you think that your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why? I don't think that it will change / evolve at all because, like in the above question, you can't change much about a cotton t - shirt.
e. What is a trade - off? A trade off is when you lose one aspect of a product in return for another aspect.
f. Do you think that trade - offs were made during the design phase of your product? I don't think there were any trade - offs because in a 100% cotton t - shirt there's only cotton so you can't trade anything off.
g. Why is it important to recycle? It is important to recycle because there is already so much trash polluting the world and we shouldn't contribute more to it.
h. How do product designers play a role is recycling? The product designers have to design products that have the ability to be recycled.
i. What role does society play in the recycling effort? Society has to realize that the build up of garbage is an issue in todays world and that they need to recycle to help fix, or at least slow the process.
j. What can you do to help? I can continue to recycle at home and I can help to promote recycling within my community.
b. Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a product's life cycle? The companies should be designing products that are reusable and recyclable so that the amount of trash isn't added to.
c. What would you change about your product? Why? I don't know what I would change ... you can't change much in a cotton t - shirt.
d. Do you think that your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why? I don't think that it will change / evolve at all because, like in the above question, you can't change much about a cotton t - shirt.
e. What is a trade - off? A trade off is when you lose one aspect of a product in return for another aspect.
f. Do you think that trade - offs were made during the design phase of your product? I don't think there were any trade - offs because in a 100% cotton t - shirt there's only cotton so you can't trade anything off.
g. Why is it important to recycle? It is important to recycle because there is already so much trash polluting the world and we shouldn't contribute more to it.
h. How do product designers play a role is recycling? The product designers have to design products that have the ability to be recycled.
i. What role does society play in the recycling effort? Society has to realize that the build up of garbage is an issue in todays world and that they need to recycle to help fix, or at least slow the process.
j. What can you do to help? I can continue to recycle at home and I can help to promote recycling within my community.