Design and development of plus-size furniture by integrating functional design, strength design and design for manufacturing as a methodology

Hongtao Zhou, Purdue University

Abstract

Furniture design for the increasing plus-size population emerges as a challenge for the U.S. furniture industry. Furniture manufacturers need to design and produce more products for this market. Design guidelines and methodology are needed for designing plus-size furniture that could potentially become products for mass production. This study summarized plus-size furniture guidelines and generated a comprehensive furniture design methodology that integrates functional design, strength design, design for manufacturing. This furniture design methodology was validated by mean of a case study of plus-size furniture design, construction, and manufacturing. The case study yielded a plus-size rocking chair design with durable structure, sound functions, and low cost that was feasible to manufacture. The study explored the frameworks for plus-size furniture design and emphasized the functional design, strength design and design for manufacturing as parts of the methodology. It also involved discussing how strength design and design for manufacturing worked as design tools to optimize the design process, which could be meaningful for furniture design education.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Haviarova, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Industrial engineering|Wood sciences

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