Enhancing cassava grater design: A customer-driven approach using AHP, QFD, and TRIZ integration

Nana Yaa Serwaah Sarpong; Joseph Oppong Akowuah; Eric Asante Amoah; Joseph Ofei Darko

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36167

Enhancing cassava grater design: A customer-driven approach using AHP, QFD, and TRIZ integration

Heliyon. 2024 Aug 13;10(16):e36167. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36167. eCollection 2024 Aug 30.

Authors

Nana Yaa Serwaah Sarpong^{1

2}, Joseph Oppong Akowuah¹, Eric Asante Amoah¹, Joseph Ofei Darko¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Abstract

Due to consistent cassava cultivation, small-scale processing centers rely heavily on the cassava grater. However, these machines face stagnation in innovation and design evolution, leading to inefficiencies, limited capacity, and inconsistent output. Adding to these challenges is the competitive global market, demanding a focus on design enhancements. This study employs a multi-faceted approach involving the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) to prioritize customer requirements, propose technically aligned solutions, and offer innovative design options for cassava graters. A total of 10 customer requirements (CR), 21 technical solutions (TS), and 63 innovative design options (IDO) were established and prioritized, aiming for easy adoption by fabricators, engineers, manufacturers, and artisans. Implementing these insights boosts cassava grater efficiency and productivity and significantly advances knowledge. This work presents a thorough scientific framework for product design, empowering local manufacturers to remain viable and relevant in the rapidly changing field of product enhancement.

Keywords: Analytic hierarchy process (AHP); Cassava grater; Customer requirement; Innovative product design; Product enhancement; Quality function deployment (QFD); Theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ).