The Problem of Baby Sleeping Basket Supply on Airplane - Case Study Example

PROBLEM OF BABY SLEEPING BASKET SUPPLY ON AIRPLANE Name: Course: Instructor: Institution: City: Date Targeted People The baby basket targets mothers or parents with children of below two years of age. The basket is aimed at enhancing the security of children on board, in order to avoid injuries that may arise from unexpected movements of plane during a flight. Parents were the target since they are the ones involved in the frequent handling of the baskets while travelling with their babies. While designing the baskets, weight and height of the babies were considered since babies have different growth rates. In addition, the space for the basket in the plane was also considered since it was found to be a problem that parents faces. The design will also target airline providers. Some airline companies provide their customers with the baskets. The report established that these baskets are usually available on the first come first served and customers are usually required to book in advance. This is an indication that these baskets are scarce or the available space in the airplanes for the baskets is inadequate. Therefore, an economical design will be more appropriate in such situations to ensure the demand of such baskets do not overweigh their supply. In designing the baby basket, the Federal Aviation Authority requirements for a baby carrier will be taken into consideration in order to make sure various planes accept the product in their planes. In addition, various airlines will be consulted in order to provide direction on the size and quality of the baby basket. This was also to allow the designer to assess the size of the space on the plane available for the basket. Since the baskets are meant to enhance comfort of babies while on the plane, the designer took into consideration and used materials that could facilitate comfort of babies while on board. Comfort of babies was a factor since most parents require their babies to sleep during the flight. Baskets will be made from palm and fibers or soft clothes since they enhance secure and warm sleeping environment for babies. In collecting data to help in designing the basket, primary and secondary sources were utilized. The most appropriate primary method used was questionnaire. Questionnaire was based on drop and pick later since this would provide enough time for the respondent to complete the questionnaire. In addition, they were made simpler to enhance easy understanding. This research facilitated the understanding of the users of the basket. It will help in designing the basket taking into consideration the users requirements for example, size and weight requirements. Market and Competitor analysis The drive towards designing the baby baskets used in planes is due to the increasing demand of these products. After analyzing the existing market, it has been noticed that there is an increasing demand for baby baskets that offers security and comfort to babies during the fight. The analysis identified that there exists a wide market that is dissatisfied with the baby carriers available for them. Most of the providers of the baby carriers do not completely take into consideration the carriers requirements. In Australia for example, most parents complain of the size and comfort of the carriers. Analyzing the market and competitors entailed the analysis of the industry, determining the appropriate market segment, the market entry strategy, determining market trends and market needs. Analysis of these facilitates designing of an appropriate highly demanded baby basket. Main competitors identified in the market include Target Company that offers a wide range of products including the baby carriers. Analyzing its strategies and products will facilitate the process of designing a more appropriate basket to be used in planes. In addition, this analysis will enable the designer to concentrate on a particular design that is highly demanded and less costly to produce. Target Company offers even car seats that used on the planes to provide support for babies during a flight. Various parents who claim that installing them is not an easy task have criticized these car seats. Therefore, when creating a basket design, the designer will take into consideration the ease of placement of the baskets on the plane. In analyzing the market, it was realized that other alternative products for baby baskets exists in the market. One common product that has been used is the car carriers. These car carriers have been considered to be more flexible and to provide security to babies while on board. However, some parents have complained that carrying these car carriers to various airports has not been easy and requested for equipment that is more portable. Manufactures of this product consider various features before designing a baby carrier such as bassinets. Factors that influences the design of competitors are, comfort, security, material used for manufacturing, cost and uses of the baby basket. Babies must be held firmly and comfortably in the carriers in order to prevent them from escaping through the basket openings. Security of the infants is the main concern while designing a baby carrier since they should ensure babies are protected while on them. However, combining all these characteristics in designing a baby carrier has not been easy. Most parents have complained on the materials used in manufacturing the carriers, size of the carriers, flexibility and simplicity of the carriers. Plastic carriers for example have had various problems with their handles locks. In addition, parents have also indicated that some carriers have large openings that could offer escape routes for their infants. In making our design, the mentioned issues will be considered to ensure safety of infants while on board. The design will consider the most comfortable materials for example soft materials that would ensure baby’s comfort. The size of openings will also be point of concentration to ensure a baby does not escape from the basket during unexpected movements or turbulence. The design will also take into consideration the strength of the handles or handle locks of the carriers. Strong handles will enable the parents carry with them their babies in the baskets without fear of falling down. In addition, having noticed that operating in this market requires networking, the designer will establish networks and links that will enhance selling of these products. Baskets will be made in such a way that they would perform various functions and not just to be used in planes. The Future Manufacturing of baby carriers such as baskets, bassinets and car carriers started long time ago and has been undergoing various developments. Different technologies and materials have been used to manufacture these carriers for example, fibers and palm. Manufacturers and designers cannot control the way parents use these carriers, however they are responsible for coming up with the latest designs. The current used design includes cloth carriers, plastic carriers and molded carriers. Manufacturers and designers expect these designs to be developed in future using appropriate technology. These developments will enhance security and comfort of infants while travelling on a plane. With the latest health concerns, doctors are expected to influence future basket designs. Doctors have suggested that, Barksdale (2011), physical characteristics of babies should influence a basket design. This is because these baby carriers affect spinal development Barksdale (2011). Therefore, in future designers project that, skeletal stress, spinal development, comfort and security will be the center for development of baby carriers (Agran, Winn, &, Castillo, 2012). These requirements might be viewed to impact negatively on the future development of the basket; however, designers should explore them and take them to their advantage in order to develop a more advanced product in the future. Testing Design Directions Testing the basket will entail ensuring that the consumer’s requirements on the product are met. The design will be tested if it offers infant’s security, comfort, the technology requirements are met and whether it is able to accommodate future adjustments. Here, parents, doctors, government, airplane authorities and other consumer protection bodies will be required to assess whether the product meets the required standards. This will enhance the process of further improvement of the product in the future. Testing the design will enable the manufacturer to assess whether it would be necessary to launch the product into the market. In addition, it will give a guideline towards setting the market price of the product. While testing the basket design, comparison will be made with the existing substitute products. This will enable the consumer to determine whether the basket offers the most appropriate solutions for the babies during the flight. Furthermore, testing will enable the manufacture to determine market segments to launch its products and the various Medias to use for advertisement. Determining the market segments enables the manufacture to counter its competitors in various markets. Key Findings The research established that parents with babies less than two years face various problems while on board. These problems ranges from the size, security and comfort of the baskets they use to place their babies while on board. It was established that while designing the basket, the space on the plane should be considered, materials that could enhance baby comfort and even enable him sleep comfortably should be a factor of the design. In addition, an appropriate technology that will reduce the cost of the basket should be used when designing the product since most parents consider the current cost to be too high. Doctor’s recommendations also should be taken into consideration while designing the basket since they will help in designing a product that enhances safety of an infant while on board. In addition, the research established that airport authorities and parents should be consulted before making any basket to be used by babies on board. Consumer rights groups are also organizations that should not be left out while creating any basket design, since they influence consumer-buying behaviors. References Agran PF, Winn DG, &, Castillo DN (2012) On-lap travel: still a problem in airplanes and aircrafts Barksdale BC (2011) Child safety restraints: a controversy over safe infant air travel. J Air Law Commerc 57:201–255 Read More