Joint Master Project (group work) 2011.09-2012.02
Product line extension and innovative medical disposable products design
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack”
Stöpler BV is a distributor of top brand medical disposables. To be able to get control over the manufacturing price, Stöpler has introduced a new brand of disposables ‘Cocune’. For the extension of the Cocune product line, Stöpler is looking for new and innovative products, which can successfully be marketed under the Cocune brand. The product developed in this project should evoke emotions with the user, be of high quality and be marketed at an affordable price. Besides that, they should not compete with the products of other companies that they currently sell.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack” This project consists of three phases. In the goal definition phase, the team conducts internal analysis, external analysis and selects the design direction. In the concept generation phase, a closer look at the informal care market, end users as well as their tasks is taken. Next to that ideas and concepts are generated and chosen. In the design phase, prototypes are developed, tested and detailed. The business plan is filed to describe how the product should be introduced to the market.
Goal definition
Stakeholder analysis Stöpler’s relation with external partners is studied in the stakeholder map. Streams of money, materials and information are presented with respective colors and arrows to provide insights in the network and interdependencies between the stakeholders. It can be helpful to understand the interests and mutual influences of individual stakeholders.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack�
Competitor analysis An overview of the main competitors of Cocune is given to get better insights into the main competitors and to find out in what fields these companies are active. The results state that the main categories in which the competitors are active besides the waterless washing are incontinence products, home care products, aids for the care sector and other general medical products.
Activity map Observations of the interactions between nurses, patients and products in the home care environment are conducted. The activity map illustrates what a nurse encounters during a day of work as well as the time taken by each task.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack”
Concept generation Informal care givers Informal care can be provided by families, close relatives, friends or neighbors. A closer look is taken at these informal caregivers in terms of gender, age and relationship to care receivers.
SWOT matrix From the SWOT matrix, a field of opportunities was derived keeping the strengths and weaknesses of Stöpler in mind. Ten promising fields of strengths and opportunities are found and one of these fields is chosen as the design direction in which new product solutions for the Cocune brand will be found. Design direction Design a package of ‘care products’, which can be used in the growing home care sector in the Netherlands by the informal care, to support the home care nurse with limited time to take care of a patient.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack” Task selection All the informal care tasks are evaluated and mapped according to two criterial: “frequency” of tasks and “complexity” of required skills or knowledge. The team would like to find out which tasks might most meet the design goal and are promising for product development in a new package of care products. Among all these tasks, the following tasks provide more flexibility and rooms for development of disposable products. • Toileting and changing incontinent products • Washing in bed • Massage
Interaction vision An interaction vision was made in order to express how the new Cocune product should be seen.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack� Final Concept The final concept is the package for washing in bed and there are four products inside the package.
Multiple layer washgloves The washglove consists of several layers which can be ripped off when used. Thus the caregivers do not have to change washgloves all the time and can continue with washing the patients.
Waste bag The waste bag can be used to instantly dispose the dirty washgloves. The bag stands open and can be stuck to the wall or head of the bed. It can also be put between the edge of the mattress and the bed. Sponges and frame Easy pull-off glove It enables the relative unexperienced caregivers to take off the gloves in a hygienic way, without touching the outside of the glove.
The sponges are disposable and there is special foam inside which enables the removal of dirt stuck to the body. The frame can be used for multiple times.
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack”
Design Prototype development and user test Various prototypes are developed according to the product descriptions and tested in a session with home care nurses. From the feedback of the users, the waste bag is most promising product inside the package for future production and adoption by informal caregivers. Thus the team details the design for the waste bag instead of the whole package.
Product description The Zipack is a waste bag that at the same time functions as a package. It is decided to name the waste bag ‘Zipack’, which indicates that it functions as a package that can be zipped.
The template with its fold and weld lines
“Disposable garbage bag: Zipack” The main properties of the Zipack are: • Waste bag: to instantly throw away care products that are used. • Package: the bag also functions as the package for other care products. • Waterproof: the material is waterproof which keeps water and dirt inside the bag. • Zip lock: the zip lock makes it possible to close the bag airtight so that the smell and dirt remains in the bag. After closure it can be disposed in the normal garbage bin. • Stand open: the bag can stand open on itself besides the bed or on a table, which makes it easy to throw garbage in. • Hang on bed: the bag can also be hung on the edge of the bed and is suitable for different sizes of beds, this way the bag is always close by and garbage can be thrown away immediately.
Supporting marketing programs The products will be mainly sold through the home care shops, pharmacies and internet. The group proposes a market price of 0.50 euro for the bag alone without content.