Have you ever bought a product and thought to yourself, “I really hope this doesn’t blow up in my face”?

Well, you’re not alone.

Many of us have concerns about the safety of the products we use every day.

And while it’s easy to assume that product safety is solely the responsibility of manufacturers and regulators, as a consumer, you also have the power to influence the safety of the products you use.

One way to ensure that products are safe is through design for inspection.

Design for inspection is a concept that involves creating products with the goal of making them easier to inspect and test during and after manufacturing.

This approach can reduce the risk of defects, failures, and hazards that could harm users or damage the environment.

Here’s how design for inspection can improve the safety of products:

Reducing the Risk of Human Error

One of the biggest challenges in product inspection is the risk of human error.

By making inspection tasks simpler, faster, and more intuitive, design for inspection can reduce the chances of human error during an inspection.

Here are a few ways to achieve this:

• Clear labels, indicators, and instructions can help inspectors identify and verify product features and functions.
• Standardized components, connectors, and interfaces can help inspectors avoid confusion and mistakes.
• Using colour-coded or shape-coded parts can help inspectors distinguish between different product variants or versions.

Enhancing Product Reliability and Performance

In addition to reducing the risk of human error, design for inspection can also enhance the reliability and performance of products.

Here are some examples:

• Modular or open designs can help inspectors access and examine internal components and systems.
• Self-diagnostic or intelligent features can help inspectors monitor and measure product parameters and conditions.
• Feedback or warning mechanisms can help inspectors detect and correct product faults or anomalies.

Increasing Product Durability and Longevity

Finally, design for inspection can also increase the durability and longevity of products.

Here are a few ways to achieve this:

• Using robust or resilient materials and structures can help inspectors prevent or minimize product wear and tear.
• Using easy-to-replace or repair parts can help inspectors extend product life cycles.
• Using recyclable or biodegradable materials can help inspectors reduce product waste and environmental impact.

Design for Inspection: It’s Not Rocket Science

Design for inspection is a valuable strategy for improving product safety in any industry or domain.

By applying design for inspection principles and practices, product designers can create products that are safe to use, produce, transport, store, maintain, and dispose of.

And as a consumer, you can also do your part by choosing products that are designed with safety in mind.

So, the next time you’re shopping for a new product, take a closer look at its design.

Does it have clear labels and instructions?

Are its components standardized and easy to distinguish?

Is it made of durable and sustainable materials?

These are all factors to consider when choosing a safe and reliable product.

And remember, product safety isn’t just a matter of luck – it’s a matter of design.