Degree Name

Department

Mechanical Engineering

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Defense Date

2018-06-20

Publication Date

2018-07-06

First Faculty Advisor

Randy Lewis

First Faculty Reader

Terri Bateman

Honors Coordinator

Brian D. Jensen

Keywords

Maintainability, Design, Low-Resource, Development

Abstract

Designing products for developing communities has exposed many of the underlying assumptions that engineers from developed nations have during the design process. There has been much written about these underlying assumptions in order to create a better framework for designing for developing communities. One unexplored, yet important area is the universality of common maintainability principles used in developed countries when designing products used in developing communities. Such principles include: simplicity, diagnosability, standardization of parts, modular subassemblies, minimizing assembly and disassembly parts, labeling components, increased life of moving parts, manuals, and simplifying tools needed for repairs [1]–[3]. The purpose of this research is to assess the universality of these maintainability principles for design in developing communities and determine any modifications or gaps that exist. A case study of a new low-cost water pump for Uros Islanders in Peru will be used to explore the practicality of the theory.

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