Problem Statement

General Problem Statement

The current way of aligning cabinets, placing tile and flooring, and leveling furniture involves a lot of tools and manual leveling. This is not very efficient and can be very time consuming.

Statement-Restatement Technique

Initial Statement: SmartScrew will be able to reduce the amount of time to install level flooring or other leveling processes.

• Why: Because a lot of time is wasted in manually leveling
• Why: Because we want to reduce the amount of time which translates directly into money saving in a construction setting

Restatement: SmartScrew saves time, materials, and money.

Source/Cause Approach

Current equipment installation too costly and time-consuming

• Reliability
  • Easy to carry around
  • Easy to use
• Efficiency
  • Saves money by only needing one tool modification instead of multiple leveling systems
  • Saves time

Kepner-Tregoe Problem Analysis

What is known?

• Eyeballing true level is near impossible
• Nothing similar on the market
• Workers find new and creative ways to level installations
• Equipment installation can become more comfortable and convenient for the user

What is not known?

• Specific drill attachment mechanisms
• The new and creative ways the workers will use this product

What was observed?

• Equipment installation is time-consuming.
• Workers came up with impromptu solutions to level installations

What was not observed?

• There is no existing tool that would initiate a placement of material or equipment smoothly

What are the constraints?

• Making the SmartScrew as efficient as the consumer needs
• Safety is paramount (laser)

What are not constraints?

• Equipment installation with the SmartScrew

What is important?

• Understanding our customers' needs
• Creating a mechanism that can be used with many different drills

What is not important?

• Marketing

What are the goals/objectives?

• Economize budget and save time

What is not goals/objectives?

• Perfecting our design

What can be expected?

• A fully functioning screw and few electrical hazards
• Robustness
  • waterproof
  • drop proof
  • dust proof

What can not be expected?

• Drilling to improper depths

Situation Analysis

Timing: Moderate - Leveling can be exact at a quicker time

Trend: High - This is a revolutionary piece of technology

Impact: High- construction workers have an easier time eyeballing the exact level and can develop uses for SmartScrew that we cannot imagine