Rant Re: "Improving" products till they are useless
Ted Trower
Description
Collection
Title:
Rant Re: "Improving" products till they are useless
Creator:
Ted Trower
Date:
3/7/2007
Text:
Does anyone else get frustrated when the suppliers redesign products
in such a way as to destroy their value and usefulness to the consumer?
I have an excellent example on my hands right now. The 1M102 knee
from Proteor, sold in the USA by DAW under the name Geri-Lite model
#RK-4100. I have used the knee for years because it was lightweight,
durable, adjustable and functional. Now Proteor has re-designed the
knee and, without adding any additional function or benefit to the
consumer, they have made it bulky and 20% heavier than the previous
design. The new design can be seen at:
<URL Redacted> The old
design is visible in your DAW catalog.
I can only assume the reasons for this are driven either by marketing
and image concerns or an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. It
certainly wasn't based upon concerns about improving function or
decreasing the weight of the product. All in all a waste of
engineering and manufacturing effort that makes the product less
attractive to me as the prosthetic provider.
Ted A. Trower C.P.O., FAAOP
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, Michigan, USA
www.amputee.com
___________________________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
the intended recipient (s) and may contain confidential and
privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or
distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of
the original message.
in such a way as to destroy their value and usefulness to the consumer?
I have an excellent example on my hands right now. The 1M102 knee
from Proteor, sold in the USA by DAW under the name Geri-Lite model
#RK-4100. I have used the knee for years because it was lightweight,
durable, adjustable and functional. Now Proteor has re-designed the
knee and, without adding any additional function or benefit to the
consumer, they have made it bulky and 20% heavier than the previous
design. The new design can be seen at:
<URL Redacted> The old
design is visible in your DAW catalog.
I can only assume the reasons for this are driven either by marketing
and image concerns or an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. It
certainly wasn't based upon concerns about improving function or
decreasing the weight of the product. All in all a waste of
engineering and manufacturing effort that makes the product less
attractive to me as the prosthetic provider.
Ted A. Trower C.P.O., FAAOP
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, Michigan, USA
www.amputee.com
___________________________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
the intended recipient (s) and may contain confidential and
privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or
distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of
the original message.
Citation
Ted Trower, “Rant Re: "Improving" products till they are useless,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/228017.
