This report discussed the concept of Design for Failure and uses consumer electronics as an example. It also discusses the environmental impact of this design type.

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Design for Failure
Operations Management Assignment
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2. 1
Table of Contents
Concept ............................................................................................................... 2
Introduction....................................................................................................... 2
Understanding from the Reliability Curve............................................................... 2
Types of Design for Failure ..................................................................................... 4
Functional Failure ............................................................................................... 4
Systemic Failure................................................................................................. 4
Style Failure ...................................................................................................... 4
Design for Failure in Consumer Electronics ............................................................... 5
Fragile Hardware ................................................................................................ 5
Unavailable or Expensive Spare Parts.................................................................... 5
Planned Life Cycle .............................................................................................. 5
Heat ................................................................................................................. 5
Style................................................................................................................. 5
Operating System Upgrade.................................................................................. 6
Environmental Considerations................................................................................. 7
Resource Depletion............................................................................................. 7
Waste Generation............................................................................................... 7
Greater Electricity and Water Consumption............................................................ 7
Cultivation of Unsustainable Culture...................................................................... 7
Bottom Line.......................................................................................................... 8
References ........................................................................................................... 9

3. 2
Concept
Introduction
Design for failure, also called as planned obsolescence, is when products are
made so that they become dysfunctional after a certain period. You might find that after
a single use, your printer ink cartridge cannot function even if it refilled. Planned
obsolescence has potential benefits for a producer because the product fails and the
consumer is under pressure to purchase again, either from the same manufacturer (a
replacement part or a newer model), or from a competitor which might also rely on
planned obsolescence.
For an industry, planned obsolescence stimulates demand by encouraging
purchasers to buy again sooner if they still want a functioning product. There is,
however, the potential backlash from consumers who learn that the manufacturer
invested money to make the product obsolete faster; such consumers might turn to a
producer, if any, which offers a more durable alternative.[1]
Understanding from the Reliability Curve
Figure 1:0:1 Reliability Curve (Source)
The above curve basically says that the rate of failure of any product is high
initially; but after the infant mortality period, the rate of failure decreases. After this
useful life, the material is bound to fail due to wear out. The material or component
chosen is such that the expected end of life is as per the desired feature. The design of
most consumer products includes an expected average lifetime permeating all stages of
Material/compo
nentschosen to
have desired
end of life

4. 3
development. For instance, no auto-parts maker would run the extra cost of ensuring a
part lasts for forty years if few cars spend more than five years on the road. Thus, it
must be decided early in the design of a complex product how long it is designed to last
so that each component can be made to those specifications.
Planned obsolescence is made likely by making the cost of repairs comparable to
the replacement cost or by refusing to provide service or parts any longer. A product
might even never have been serviceable. Creating new lines of products that do not
interoperate with older products can also make an older model quickly obsolete, forcing
replacement.

5. 4
Types of Design for Failure
Functional Failure
This is a type of technical obsolescence in which companies introduce new
technology which replaces the old. The old products do not have the same capabilities or
functionality as the new ones. For example a company that sold video tape decks while
they were developing DVDs was engaging in planned obsolescence. That is, they were
actively planning to make their existing product (video tape) obsolete by developing a
substitute product (DVDs) with greater functionality (better quality). Associated products
that are complements to the old products will also become obsolete with the introduction
of new products. For example video tape holders saw the same fate as video tapes and
video tape decks. Likewise, buggy whips became obsolete when people started traveling
in cars instead of buggies.
Systemic Failure
Planned systemic obsolescence is the deliberate attempt to make a product
obsolete by altering the system in which it is used in such a way as to make its
continued use difficult. For example, new software is frequently introduced that is not
compatible with older software. This makes the older software largely obsolete. For
example, even though an older version of a word processing program is operating
correctly, it might not be able to read data saved by newer versions. The lack of
interoperability forces many users to prematurelypurchase new programs.
Style Failure
Marketing may be driven primarily by aesthetic design. Product categories in
which this is the case display a fashion cycle. By continually introducing new designs and
retargeting or discontinuing others, a manufacturer can "ride the fashion cycle".
Examples of such product categories include automobiles (style obsolescence), with a
strict yearly schedule of new models, and the almost entirely style-driven clothing
industry (riding the fashion cycle) and the mobile phone industries with constant minor
feature 'enhancements' and restyling.

6. 5
Design for Failure in Consumer
Electronics
There are tactics using which consumer electronics products are designed so that
consumers purchase more frequently.
Fragile Hardware
Mobile phones fall down easily. But broken display glass and all damages from
improper handling are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The dropper is
reminded of his clumsiness every time he looks at the display (often the screen still
works and only the glass is damaged). A consumer will replace his gadget much sooner
when the glass is broken than when it’s not.
Unavailable or Expensive Spare Parts
After serving one a long time, a minor but crucial part of a device has broken, but
the rest of the device works fine. The customer service tells that the required spare part
isn’t available anymore and that the service for that device has been discontinued. This
forces the consumer to buy a new device. The producer generally makes more profit by
selling new devices than spare parts. Producers have found a solution to this dilemma:
totally overprice spare parts.
Repair costs of electronics are so high that often it isn’t worth getting them
repaired. The best option is replacement. Repair companies also generally charge fees
for cost estimates. That adds to the notion that customers don’t even consider repairing
their electronic gadgets.
Planned Life Cycle
Certain products have their software programmed in such a way that they will
stop functioning after some time.
Heat
Heat is an enemy of electronics. The more the hardware is exposed to it, the
faster it degrades. An example of planned obsolescence in product design is the
placement of heat-sensitive capacitors in the hottest area on a circuit board, next to the
heat sink. So basically, the worthiest of protection is put in the danger zone. These
devices will fail sooner than others which are better designed. Normal customers don’t
base their buying decision on circuit board design, and normal customers will replace
their PC when it becomes unstable.
Style
Style obsolescence happens when the gadget works totally fine and the only flaw
is that it isn’t popular anymore. The customer who doesn’t want to be unpopular will buy
a stylish new gadget. That’s because, unlike hipsters, having popular gadgets will make
a customer feel popular. Marketers employing style obsolescence are able to set new
trends (so customers can buy more popular gadgets) and kill old trends (so customers
notice that their gadget is outmoded and therefore consider getting a newer one).

7. 6
Operating System Upgrade
Many android smartphones providers do not provide an operating system
upgrade. They would want their consumers to buy the latest smartphones to own the
technology. This frustrates the normal users. The lure of advanced technology creates an
urge for repeat purchase. But there are some players such as Apple which gives
upgrades by itself since it doesn’t want its consumers to switch to another player. And
also there is Microsoft that ensures the upgrades are passed on to the consumers. Such
companies do not use this element in their design for failures. [3]

8. 7
Environmental Considerations
Resource Depletion
The quicker a product fails, the quicker we need a new one, and the more
resources are needed. If the product is not recyclable then it adds even more to the
environment. [4]
Waste Generation
If something is made to fail, it usually gets thrown away and ends up contributing
to the ever-growing worldwide waste. There is the need for sustainable recycling process
in place that will ensure that stress doesn’t develop in the environment. Within the
consumer electronics space there is a development of metal extraction facility. The
diagram below shows the process in India. In India, typically two to three metals are
extracted out of 19 whereas globally 13 are extracted. [5]
This way a lack of technology
for recycling in case of design to failure can have immense environmental ramifications.
Figure 2:1 Consumer Electronics Recycling in India
Greater Electricity and Water Consumption
The more we need to manufacture, the more energy and water we use. We know
the share of renewable energy within the global energy mix is meagre. Hence, this
technology has further environmental repercussions.
Cultivation of Unsustainable Culture
The idea that something can be used, abused and thrown away only acts to
perpetuate an unsustainable, disposable mentality in society, and will take a lot of effort
to undo. We all have started observing this in use of quite a few everyday items.
Absence of sustainable waste management and recycling practices can lead to increased
strain on the environment.
Rest of the
PCB is burnt
or discarded
Using
electrolysis, gold
and silver and
other metals are
extracted and
reused
Chunks of
aluminium and
other metals
are manually
removed and
sold
Dismantling
for obtaining
printed circuit
board

9. 8
Bottom Line
From a business strategy point of view, design for failure can work wonders for
the topline growth. The product by design can itself trigger repeat purchases thus
increasing the revenue.
There are certain industries that are built on design for failure concept. Textbooks
and fashion industries are such examples. The every nature of these industries make
design for failure acceptable to the end consumers as staying up with the latest is of
prime importance to them.
This can, however, spawn a backlash against the companies that use this
philosophy. The consumers may think that it is a form for blackmail for them to repeat
purchase. This can question the ethical standards of the company. But if the entire
industry consolidates and adopts this practice, then consumer may be left with no
option. However, some company might not adopt this design for failure philosophy as a
product differentiation strategy. Such a company can eat into other players’ market
share.
We have seen that this technology can have great environmental repercussions.
There needs to be development of recycling capacity so that environment damage can
be checked. To have an effective and sustainable recycling facility there is a need for
proper development of reverse logistics as well. This will ensure a sustainable business
model reducing the ethical and environmental issue.

10. 9
References
[1] http://www.r2launch.nl/index.php/lifetime/planned-obsolescence
[2] http://www.eventhelix.com/realtimemantra/faulthandling/reliability_availability
_basics.htm#.UxsoqfmSyNA
[3] http://listverse.com/2013/04/02/10-ways-products-are-designed-to-fail/
[4] http://msc-technology.wikispaces.com/Planned+Obsolescence
[5] http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-
12/news/31050322_1_recycling-informal-sector-metals