IB Design Technology Topic C4.1: Design for Manufacture Strategies Questionbank

This image shows components of a standard electric toothbrush including casing, motor, battery, PCB, brush head, and screws.

(Fig 1)

Identify one feature in the toothbrush design that supports Design for Assembly (DfA).

Outline two reasons why modular design is useful in consumer electronics like the toothbrush.

This image shows an automated robotic assembly line working on compact devices such as smartphones.

Outline two advantages of using automated assembly systems in mass production.

Analyse how designing smartphone casings with snap-fit joints affects both manufacturing and product longevity.

This image shows a person assembling flat-pack cardboard furniture using slot-in joints and no tools.

Evaluate the benefits and limitations of using interlocking components instead of fasteners in flat-pack furniture.

Discuss how incorporating Design for Disassembly (DfD) can support circular economy goals in consumer product design.

Which of these is an advantage of a design-for-process strategy?

At which stage of the product's life does a design-for-process strategy most directly reduce environmental impact?

Figure 1: The assembled unibody MacBook.

State the manufacturing process used to shape the body of the MacBook in Figure 1.

one advantage of machining the body from a single block of aluminium rather than joining several separate parts.

Figure 1 shows a phone with detachable screen, battery, camera module, and logic board.

Identify one design strategy used in the smartphone that supports ease of repair.

Outline two ways this modular design contributes to sustainability.