PROJECT 1: HOME APPLIANCE IMPROVENT

SUBJECT: HOME WASHING MACHINE

A report submitted by team members of Veridian Dynamics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for ENGR-1201-005

Department of Engineering San Antonio College 20 February, 2012

ABSTRACT The home washing machine shall be discussed throroughly in this report beginning with a brief history of the appliance. The modern market will then be explored including the top manufactors and the newest technologies and features available. The most common malfunctions will be analyzed along with consumer feedback both positive and negative. Veridian Dynamics will present recommended improvements and basic design principles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTi INTRODUCTION.ii HISTORY MODERN MARKETPLACE. CURRENT DESIGN TRENDS.. COMPARISON OF FEATURES OFFERED BY THREE INDUSTRY LEADERS..................................... CONSUMER ANALYSIS. IMPROVEMENT PRESENTATION THEORY AND DESIGN STRATEGIC PLAN.. ACKNOWLEGEMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS.. REFERENCES..

INTRODUCTION

WASHING MACHINES A BRIEF HISTORY The hand powered washing machine was invented b Frederick L. Maytag (Newton, Iowa 1907). Maytag built the first motor driven washer four years later (1911) .The electric washing machine was created (1937), a front loading maching. The cycles would all be completed automatically with a washing, draining, rinsing, and a spinning cycle. Machine would be anchored to ground to prevent waling. GE released its first top loading automatron in 1947, one very similar to the top loading washing machines of today. A electric timer was added to the washing machine several years later. Microcontrollers were first used in the timing process. (1990s) Soon the microcontroller was available even on less expensive models replacing the mechanical timer. Fisher and Paykal company creates the smart drive washing machine. A computer was integrated into the machine allowing for calculations and automatic adjustments. The computer integration has led us to the sophisticated multifuntional machine we have today. MARKET In a 2008 report Profile America Inc. stated the home appliance industry worth 23.3 billion dollars. Washers and dryers accounted for 26% percent of total sales worth 6.2 billion dollars. The leading manufactures in core catagories appliances in 2007 are given here:

Source: Appliance, 30th Annual Portrait of the U.S. Appliance Industry, September 2007.

The leading U.S. manufactures of washing machines: (I) (II) (III) (IV) (V) General Electric Whirlpool (Kenmore) Electrolux Whirlpool (Kenmore) White Consolidated (Frigidaire and Westinghouse)

Notable foreign manufactures present in U.S. market. (I) (II) (III) (IV) LG Samsung Haier Fischer and Pakel

Foreign influence on the American appliance industry has been increasing steadily. According to the Office of Health & Consumer Gooods Between 1997 and 2005, imports as a percentage of consumption increased from 25.4 percent to 41.7 percent. (Harris, 2006) Korean companies Samsung and LG have announced intentions to become the dominating forces in the U.S. appliance marked. Samsungs U.S. sales have increased sixfold in the past four years and LG has been named the global leader in washer sales over the years 2008-2011 according to survey data from market research companies. Both companies are currently working in new technologies with a market projected to increase that could leave U.S. behind.One should also note the falling price per unit of washing machines and other househould appliances since 2008.

(US Census Bureau)

From 2008 to 2011 Korean LG Corp. would sell the most consumer washers globaly according to survey data from market research companies. Foreign competition is expected to grow in up coming years. DESIGN TREND When the washing machine industry of today is examined it becomes apparent the trend is heading towards more energy and water efficient machines. With the passing of the Energy Independence Act of 2007 (Pub.L. 110-140) the United States government has raised the standards and defined new testing procedures to achieve the ENERGY STAR rating on residential appliances as well as adding certain tax benefits to compliant manufacturers. As result of green energy trend the United States has seen a greatly increased market share of front load washing machines; popular for their decreased water consumption verse traditional top load washers (as much as 50%). They are considered to be the most energy efficiant consumumer washing machines available. The side loading machines are more expensive then their counterparts. However the government offers tax credits and rebates for consumer use of ENERGY STAR compliant appliances and the ENERGY STAR compliant market is still projected to grow well into 2016. The home appliance industry has been increasingly focused on high technology improvements. Computer integration in newer model washing machines has allowed for a wide range of new washing machine functions previously impossible. A relatively new technology trend introduced by Korean companies Samsung and LG, is the concept of smart appliances. Appliances are being connected wirelessly to be controlled through personal electronic devices. Pike Research Company in Boulder Colorado has projected the marked for smart appliances to grow to 6.2 billion by 2015.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN LEADING MANUFACTURERS The items chosen for camparison represent industry leading manufactures and the newest technologies they have available at this time: General Electric GE Profile front load washer with steam. $1599 Steam refresh/steam assist feature for wrinkle reduction and odor control. Whirlpools 4.53 Duet front load washer with steam $ 1,499 Deep clean steam option. Samsun VRT steam and PowerFoam $1,299 Deep clean steam option. Samsung PowerFoam creates a deep cleaning foam to penetrate fabrics more deeply and at a faster rate. VRT for noise and vibration reduction .

Adaptive vibration optimizes spin patterns to reduce noise. Pre-set cycles to handle different load types. 4.3 DOE cu. Ft. stainless steel wash basket. Pre wash

Quiet spin 360 technology to enable washer to adapt and improve balance. 6th sense technology analyzes laundry and adjust features automatically. 4.3 cu. ft. steel wash basket. Direct Inject wash system pretreats stains. FanFresh with dynamic venting techology dries small amount of clothes inside washing unit. Cradle Clean simulates hand washing. Estimated time remaining disply. Allergen Cycle Energy saving cycle

Large load capacity.

Handwash cycle Estimated time remaining disply. Energy saving cycle

ENERGY STAR Qualified Automatic basket clean.

ENERGY STAR Qualified

ENERGY STAR Qualified

CONSUMER ANALYSIS Drum is not spinning Seal leak Bearing bad Short life span Noise

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES
Team, T. (2010, December 21). Lowe's thrives by wringing profits from appliances sales. Forbes, Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2010/12/21/lowes-thrives-by-wringingprofits-from-appliances-sales/ US Census Bureau, (2012). Annual survey of manufactures. Retrieved from US Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/econ/manufacturing.html (2008). Appliance dealers industry overview. Profile America, Inc., Retrieved from http://www.heraldtribune.com/assets/pdf/advtips/IQ_Appliance_Dealers.pdf Lg tops sales of global washing machine brands for third straight year. (2011, March 28). LG Electronics., Retrieved from http://www.lg.com/jo_en/press-release/article/lg-tops-sales-of-global-washingmachine-brands-for-third-straight-year.jsp Avenell, P. (2011). Trending Topics in the Laundry. Appliance Retailer, 17(5), 38-42. Harris, J. Office of Health and Consumer Goods, (2006). 2006 household appliance industry outlook (NAICS 3352) Khariff, O. (2011, January 26). Samsung, lg take aim at whirlpool with smart appliances. Bloomberg Businessweek, Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2011/tc20110126_265727.htm

(2002). Home appliance manufacturers industry yearbook 2001-2002. WEFA,