STUDERE BRUKERNE Planning the project To begin the project we sat down with LESS to define what the project was about and which problems were to be solved. From the dialogue with LESS we started to plan the project, the budget, and create a timeline with mile stones to reach and main deadlines were decisions will be needed. The goal of the project was to create a multifunctional stand for the LESS stretcher, integrated or standalone. A wish was to explore the possibility to use the stand with other standard stretchers on the market e.g. the NATO stretcher. All regulations and standards for patient care and security had to be taken into account. The need for a stand occurs at different times and in different situations during a rescue process. However the main use is during the triage were the patients are examined and categorized for further treatment. To avoid leaving the patients in the stretcher on the ground and avoiding hypothermia issues, a stand is needed. The stand also helps the medical personnel to better perform inspection and first aid, and keep the patients safe until they are released or brought to the hospital.
STUDERE BRUKERNE Design brief Important part of planning is setting up a project group and defining roles, resources, goals, sub goals, activities and timelines. The first activity for this project was to establish the Designbrief. Creating the design brief allowed us to have a strong base to come back to during the process to discuss key points and make sure that all the main specifications are implemented into the product. Shape and size: strength of the product and weight limitations Functionalities: multi functional product (heights, positions, tilt etc.) User friendly: both for people handling it and the patients laying on it Handling: quick and easy to handle even for one person Logistics: easy packing/unpacking and light weight Patient friendly: feel secure and trustable Construction: light, strong, adjustable, cheap Environments: resistant to UV, cold and warm temperatures, water Life cycle: from material choice for production to destruction Branding: part of the LESS product family
STUDERE BRUKERNE Defining user groups The next step was to define the user groups. Framing the user groups allowed us to define better their needs and adjust accordingly the product specifications into the design brief. Talking to them and observing them helped understanding the situation and what they need when rescuing and being in the field treatment site. Two different main user groups was identified: - The helpers, made of volunteers, half professionals and rescue professionals, using the LESS stand as active users. - The patients, all ages, using the LESS stand as passive users.
Looking at the big picture Before starting to design the product we looked at the complete sequence. It was key for us to understand all the different situations where the stand could be used and how it could be used. Going out in the field (exercises) is the best way to meet the actors that will use the product. Observing the different situations brings really good insights on the process in the field. Many actions and activities are happening during a rescue-operation. In this sequence we understood that the stand is mainly used inside the field treatment site were medical personnel is performing a triage. Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. Sorting the patients and the whole triage process should go fast and it is key to helping the right patients, and as many patients in as short time as possible. A stand helps this situation. Some patients have to stay at different heights, or even tilted to help their condition. In all these situations a stand is needed. A stand can also be helpful when moving a patient around with as few people as possible. Making the environment easier and more effective for rescuers helps them save more lives and have a safer work place. Quick deployment and light weight is therefore of high value.
Insights from users After observing and understanding how the rescue process is organized it was time to meet all the actors on site. We met various people active in that field, from the Air ambulance, the Fire Department or the Civil Defense. In order to gather more information and understand better the role of rescuers and their needs, we performed in-depth interviews with the actors. We asked questions, let them talk about their experiences, challenged them on their needs, and through this collected key insights that were used in the idea generation phase. The different rescue professionals have different roles in a rescue operation: e.g. fire fighters get people loose from wrecks, the police organize the scene and boundaries, medical personnel are performing where they are needed the most. Gathering all these needs into a document helped us detailing and being more specific on the design brief and the specifications for the stand.
Looking at similar products It is always useful to look at existing solution used in different fields in order to gather some principles and ideas. This kind of structured analyzes helps reveal strengths and weaknesses in competing and existing solutions. At this stage it is also interesting to keep the process open and look at all possible solutions. For a light weight multifunctional stand we thought that it would be good to look at known techniques and solution for folding and locking in order to combine or innovate. Often really old and well proven principles are good and solid, and if you mix that with new innovative materials and techniques, new innovative products can be created. The need for treating people while laying down in the right hight is an old idea, so there are plenty of solutions out there. Often these solutions tend to copy each other. Our goal as designers is to think outside the box and ask: why is it like this and how can we make it better?
Existing competition Going a bit more in depth of the field we looked at existing solution on the market. The analysis of the competitors was important for us in order to benchmark existing solutions and their good and bad sides. It was also important to define where the product should be placed on the market compared to the existing solutions. At this point we discovered that a lot of solutions were either very complex and advanced, or extremely simple but not so functional and flexible. Looking at the competitors helped us define more precisely each key point of the design brief, going through each specification and comparing them with existing products.
Mood boards To ensure that the product would fit into the existing LESS product portfolio, we defined some main guidelines to follow. At the same time, it was a simple way to keep track of the main values and specifications defined for the stand. The key words versatile, simplicity, reliable and durability helped us keep the team on track during evaluations and discussions. The Less product portfolio is all about simple, versatile and reliable solutions put into system.
The first workshops Meeting the clients and the users is a way to ensure that the design brief is clear and the we can work on it. During workshops we defined many first ideas that could be developed further in the process. Involving all the actors in the process brings dynamism to the project, and having a close dialogue makes mistakes easier to avoid. Engaging LESS and field actors in the workshops helps creating quick and simple ideas that can be developed later on. These sessions are fun and filled with energy! The designers facilitate and structure the process. We start by presenting our findings from fieldwork and interviews and from analyzing other mechanisms and stand solutions. Then we repeat out goals before we start brainstorming on certain topics: ergonomics, weight, folding, patient security, transport, compatibility, fantasy solutions, etc.
Defining principles From the workshop, two main principles were defined to be worked on. Both solutions had different advantages and disadvantages, but both had a strong potential as a stand. Two principles: 1- An integrated solution, the stand being part of the LESS stretcher. Simpler solution for logistics on site but making the LESS stretcher more heavy, complex in use and manufacturing. An integrated solution would most likely also mean a higher price for the stretcher. 2- A free standing solution, next to the stretcher. Giving more flexibility in use, and the possibility to be used with other stretchers, or to be bought without the LESS stretchers. It is also an easier solution for manufacturing. But it is one more product to handle.
Idea generation Based on the the two principles that came up after the workshop, K8 started to work with folding and different solutions for adjusting the height. This was the platform we needed to work out from. Ideation is actually starting to make suggestions and new solutions. K8 always enjoys to build and test things, and so we did in this project too. From the start hand sketches, CAD construction and simple models goes hand in hand.
Defining ideas From all the quick sketches we started to detail the selected solutions into more precise sketches, taking into account more details mentioned in the design brief. The goal was to narrow it down to the most clever solutions and build quick mockups.
Building quick models Sketching has its limits. So while detailing on sketches we started building quick paper models to understand the user scenarios and the flexibility of each idea. We try when possible to work in 1/1 scale to understand and test all situations, transportation, use, packing, cleaning and so on. Most humans make better and faster decisions with physical models in their hands, and in this project we made physical objects in our rapid modelling 3D studio. It is amazing how far you can come, and how many answers you can get from a cardboard-model, a quick laser-cut sketch of a principle or 3D printed details of a first idea of a mechanism.
Analyzing principles and ideas With all these solutions, it was important to narrow it down by analyzing each single solution, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. By studying and analyzing each solution drawn and built in cardboard prototypes, we made a list of strengths and weaknesses for all the versions of the stand based on the specifications defined in the design brief. Doing that allowed us to discuss with LESS and the users which solution would be the most appropriate. The testing of models and mockups together with the users was of the utter most importance. And it is fun!
Final decision After looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each solution we were able to make a choice. At this point we put on the side the integrated principle and decided to go for the free standing stand. The integrated solution was a lot more complex. Even though it gave some advantages in the field and in logistics, it was difficult to provide all the functionalities, keep a low prices and use it in different settings. It was also making the manufacturing of the stretcher more complex and more expensive. The free standing solution brought more flexibility to the complete LESS system and portfolio. Even though it is one more product to use on the field, making it free standing allows it to be a lot more functional and flexible. It can also be placed in advance during the rescue process. The stand can also be sold individually and the stretcher keeps its simplicity and core functions.
Selecting and detailing Thanks to the comparison of the all solutions and the decision of going for the free standing stand, we were able, together with LESS, to select a solution. During the detailing process we went through 3 main phases, going back and forth between the drawing board, the computer and the workshop, building real size prototypes. The chosen principle was in the end a re-invention of the multi-ladder. Three steps were used in this process: 1- Selecting one solution, and finalizing the models 2- Drawing the solution in CAD to ensure the precision and manufacturing process of the stand 3- Building real size prototypes to test in real life the functionalities and the adjustments needed to make it fully functional (adjusting the CAD files and the prototypes back and forth) Since our starting point and inspiration was a multi-ladder not meant for rescue-operations, we took it apart, turned it inside out, developed a unique and integrated stretcher fixation system and probably ended up with the most versatile stretcher stand in the world!
Prototyping and testing We built a few real size prototypes and tested all functionalities to ensure that all specifications were included and implemented into the product. While testing the prototypes we also adjusted the CAD file and technical drawings for production, keeping an iterative process all the way. At this point we made the choice that not all the stretchers could fit the LESS stand. We tested at least 4 different main stretchers on the marker and all had very different specifications and measurements. We focused on having a stand fully functional with the LESS stretcher and fitting within the product family and the LESS rescue kit system.
Finalising Once the product was drawn in CAD and all the main parts were defined and tested and the prototypes working, we started to work on finalizing the parts and the functions around it. This was the final step to make a product with the right amount of details and final solutions around the functions. To ensure that the finalization went right before production and after testing simple principle prototypes, we used our in house 3D printer, allowing us to create parts and test them. For example, the pictures are showing tests of a solution to secure the stretcher to the stand. This is an important functionality when the stretcher needs to be moved around with the stand under.
Visualization In order to finalize the product and make it part of the LESS portfolio we detailed it on a visual level, creating rendering, and including color codes and branding solutions.
Final product The final product was produced in small amounts first (pilot series) to check with the manufacturer all the details and to perform a quality control on each part. The product is then check and all possible remaining issues are reported before mass production starts. K8 did research and initial contact with manufacturers, and had the role as project managers on sourcing the production of first prototypes in Asia
Results from the project The stands have already become an integral part of the product offer, and a valuable addition for future profitability. Sale of stands the first year was 45 units with acceptable profitability. One would expect steady increase in sales for the current and coming years. The stands have gained acceptance in very different market segments (offshore, defense, railway tunnels, airports) and the feedback so far has been entirely positive. The stand has strengthened LESS product range, and improved the system solutions offered to the market. Competitive advantage: By diversifying our offer, we appear as a more attractive supplier, which generally have enhanced our competitiveness. By being able to offer comprehensive system solutions, it is easier to choose us in competition with others".