WEEK 3

-Date: 29/4/21-

This week, we entered the second phase of ideation🧠 - to generate even more ideas of the chemical product we would design in order to solve the area we decided on last week by the use of SCAMPER. We also learnt how to use the COWS decision matrix to help us filter out and select ideas that are feasible from the vast ideas💭 we generated via SCAMPER.

When we were in the process of learning what the purpose of SCAMPER was, Dr Noel posed us these questions:

After last week, we now have a broad topic of what to work on, we may even have a solution💡 in mind…

But is this perceived solution really well identified and able to deliver good results❓

Is there a simpler way to achieving the same results by tweaking or combine existing solutions maybe❓

The answer: SCAMPER!!🌟

1)💥 What is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an acronym for various methods we can use to think outside of the box, stretch the idea we have at hand into various different new ones. In ICPD SCAMPER allows us to extend on the idea we have at hand and branch them out into new ideas from which we will assess if these newer vast ideas generated are feasible or not and this will give us the best ideas we can consider. It is only through SCAMPER that we push ourselves to put on our thinking caps and let our imagination run wild to open up the doors to numerous possibilities allowing us to select the best possible idea from the lot generated.

Our SCAMPER ideas :

SCAMPER IDEAS💫
S - Substitute   (Substituting part of the problem/product/process for something else)	Change it to a disposal heater using MRE pack
C - Combine   (Combining two or more parts of your probortunity to achieve a different product/process)	Combine electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries) and manual hand powered charging. (Manually spin a hand-powered generator)
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)	Use solar energy (Solar Powered Batteries) to heat up the food
M - Modify   (Changing part or all of the current situation, or to distort it in an unusual way.)	Use hot sand or stone to heat up the plate and food
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.)	Use to boil water for drinking or cooking purposes via electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries)
E - Eliminate   (What might happen if you eliminated various parts of the product/process/probortunity)	NIL
R- Reverse   (Think of what you would do if part of your probortunity/product/process worked in reverse or done in a different order.)	Include a Refrigeration system to lower temperature to cool down food.

From the above 6 ideas generated, in order to sieve out the best ideas quickly, we will be looking at each idea and analysing them via the Feasibility Analysis on their:

• Budget (Cannot exceed $2000)
• Project Timeline (Cannot exceed 1 semester)
• Technical Feasibility (Extent of difficulty to create the product)
• Operational Feasibility

2) 💥What is Feasibility Analysis?

Feasibility analysis helps us decide if a project is viable. It also allows us to gain a better understanding of the project, especially with regards to the technical feasibility and operational feasibility of the product designing and operating process. They help us answer questions such as whether or not we have money, space, or the equipment to carry out these ideas.

💫Our Feasibility Analysis:

 

Idea 1:  Substitute the electric heating component with MRE pack.	YES	NO
Budget -       Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline    - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
a.    Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
b.    Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
c.     Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

Idea 2:  Combine electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries) and manual hand powered charging. (Manually spin a hand-powered generator)	YES	NO
Budget - Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
a.    Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
b.    Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
c.         Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

Idea 3:  Use solar energy (Solar-powered Batteries) to heat up the food	YES	NO
Budget - Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
·       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
·       Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
·       Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

 

Idea 4:  Use hot sand or stone to heat up the plate and food	YES	NO
Budget - Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
·       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
·       Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
·       Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

Idea 5:  Use to boil water for drinking or cooking purposes via electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries)	YES	NO
Budget - Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
·       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
·       Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
·       Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

Idea 6:  Include a Refrigeration system to lower temperature to cool down food.	YES	NO
Budget - Less than S$2000?	YES
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	YES
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·       Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	YES
·       Are the required utilities available?	YES
·       Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	YES
·       Does it need any computer software and hardware?		NO
·       Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	YES
·       Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	YES
Operational Feasibility
a.    Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	YES
b.    Is it legal to operate the project?	YES
c.         Is it safe to operate the project?	YES

 

From feasibility analysis, the 3 most feasible ideas are idea 1 (Substitute the electric heating component with MRE pack), idea 2 (Combine electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries) and manual hand powered charging. (Manually spin a hand-powered generator) and idea 5 (Use to boil water for drinking or cooking purposes via electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries). 

After ELIMINATING IDEAS 3,4 and 6, We have narrowed down the number of feasible ideas from 6->3.

3) 💥What is COWS Decision Matrix?

To further narrow down the 3 ideas we have deemed feasible to choose the best idea and make our decision on the idea we will focus on to design the chemical product to solve the problem we chose last week, we will use the COWS decision matrix.

- Criteria : Relevance

- Options : All feasible

- Weighting : Contextualise

- Score: Assessment

💫OUR COWS DECISION MATRIX 

Criteria	Weightages	Option
		Idea #1: Substitute the electric heating component with MRE pack		Idea #2: Combine electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries) and manual hand powered charging. (Manually spin a hand-powered generator		Idea #5: Use to boil water for drinking or cooking purposes via electric charging (to a power source/outlet or batteries)
		Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score
a.    Low Energy Consumption	20%	3	60	1	20	1	20
b.    Cost	25%	3	75	2	50	2	50
c.     Ease of Use	20%	3	60	2	40	3	60
d.    Ease of Maintenance	20%	3	60	1	20	3	60
e.    Practicability of the product in everyday lives	15%	3	45	1	15	3	45
Score	100%	-	300	-	145	-	235

From COWS matrix, Since Idea 1 has the highest score: 300, it is chosen as the final idea. (We have narrowed down from 6->3->1).🌟