There may come a time when you need to consider redesigning your medical cart. A redesign doesn’t mean that the initial product failed in any way, but rather it’s an opportunity for overall improvement in two key areas that won’t compromise aesthetics and functionality.
1. Tooling
If the product has a long life cycle, consider switching any soft tooling to hard tooling. While soft tooling offers easier design changes and mold adjustments, its lifetime is far inferior to hard tooling. Hard tooling generally lasts throughout the lifetime of the product, but the tradeoff is inflexibility in design alterations. Also, hard tooling is more expensive than soft tooling, but the long-term investment pays off.
2. De-featuring
In some cases, redesigning a medical cart by de-featuring enables you to sell that product at a lower price while increasing production, decreasing lead times and reducing manufacturing fees. One of the easiest de-featuring options is exchanging your current casters for low-end casters. It’s simple, cost-efficient and shouldn’t substantially detract from aesthetic quality.
Likewise, some medical carts have a height-adjustable shelf that is rarely used; therefore, holes could be subtracted from the height adjustment unit. You can quickly brainstorm other features specific to your medical cart that perhaps aren’t currently needed that would reduce costs without limiting functionality. For example, cable management designs, directional locking wheels and unused drawers could all be looked at more critically.
Redesign is a trial and error process to discover the full capability of your medical cart. Even with countless meetings and prototypes, it’s difficult to assess exact product efficiencies until the cart is being used in the field.
At HUI, we understand the necessity and advantages of medical cart redesign. Contact us to discuss your redesign needs or concerns. We’re happy to help.
