Challenge
InForm’s design team collaborated with Snap-on’s personnel to fully understand their manufacturing processes and capabilities. This collaboration allowed us to design the product and its assembly process from the ground up, eliminating unnecessary steps and optimizing parts for efficiency.
Result
The new design has several features that improve the unit’s functionality and manufacturability. The plastic housing is less expensive than the previous metal case and the soft form minimizes marring of car finishes during use. Freon cylinders and other internal components are pre-mounted onto an internal chassis to streamline assembly and simplify maintenance. InForm also provided materials analysis to identify a resin that met design specifications for durability, flame retardancy and chemical resistance.
InForm’s Contribution
- Industrial design
- Ergonomics
- Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
- Mechanical engineering
- Cable and hose management
- Vendor liaison
- Manufacturing and component optimization
