Monday, January 25, 2010
Fault Indicators for Consumer Appliances
A washing machine fail to work. The Lady of the house wonders what went wrong. She turns it on, clothes are in, water tap is connected, but the machine doesnt start. She calls the vendor. The vendors redirects her to the service shop. The service shop guy asks for details and promises to send a service engineer.
The service engineer drops in after two days. Well dressed even a tie the service engineers speaks half in english and half in regional language. He checks the machine and says there seems to nothing wrong except the motor. He says motor is not his area of expertise so he will go back and report. After another two days an other service engineer turns up. He confirms the motor must be the problem. Then comes the shock! He says the machine needs to be brought to the service shop to investigate and fix this.
You cannot take a washing machine in auto or your home car! So the lady brings a small load carrier, costs Rs. 250 for 4km distance. She takes the machine to the service shop. She then expresses frustration to the service manager and tells him that if the motor is gone bad, she doesnt want to fix it rather she will dispose it. The service manager orders the engineers to check throughly.
Then comes the shock they report that the motor too is fine! At last they find that the unit where buttons operate the machine there is a fault. They changed the swtich assembly and it all works fine. At least seems to work fine. The lady just notices that there are so many other people with grim face waiting to quarrel with the service shop folks regarding one or the other washing machine issues.
Now let us assume the above story goes as below:
When the machine failed, the Lady calls the service shop. The receiver asks the make/model/year of manufacture etc. Then he asks the lady to locate a spot in the washing machine where there are LEDs marked E1, E2, E3, E4. And there is a small glass viewpoint. He asks her whether there is a Yellow and Red color flashing alternatively in the glass viewpoint. The lady says No. He responds that means the motor is not running. Then he asks do you see any of the LEDs labelled E1/E2/etc turned ON? She says yes E1 alone is glowing. He responds that means the switch assembly is gone bad. He says "Madam, we will send our service engineer with tools and for worst case a replacement unit of switch assembly with in two days".
Two days later the service engineer comes, checks and finds a replacement of switch assembly is required. In few minutes he fixes everything. Charges for part and service.
I know it will cost little more money. But when things fail, it anyway costs money, frustration, loss of good will, etc.
NOW IF YOU ARE A STUDENT IN FINAL YEAR GRADUATION AND WILLING TO DO SUCH A PROJECT - I CAN CO-SPONSOR and CO-PARTICIPATE
The service engineer drops in after two days. Well dressed even a tie the service engineers speaks half in english and half in regional language. He checks the machine and says there seems to nothing wrong except the motor. He says motor is not his area of expertise so he will go back and report. After another two days an other service engineer turns up. He confirms the motor must be the problem. Then comes the shock! He says the machine needs to be brought to the service shop to investigate and fix this.
You cannot take a washing machine in auto or your home car! So the lady brings a small load carrier, costs Rs. 250 for 4km distance. She takes the machine to the service shop. She then expresses frustration to the service manager and tells him that if the motor is gone bad, she doesnt want to fix it rather she will dispose it. The service manager orders the engineers to check throughly.
Then comes the shock they report that the motor too is fine! At last they find that the unit where buttons operate the machine there is a fault. They changed the swtich assembly and it all works fine. At least seems to work fine. The lady just notices that there are so many other people with grim face waiting to quarrel with the service shop folks regarding one or the other washing machine issues.
Now let us assume the above story goes as below:
When the machine failed, the Lady calls the service shop. The receiver asks the make/model/year of manufacture etc. Then he asks the lady to locate a spot in the washing machine where there are LEDs marked E1, E2, E3, E4. And there is a small glass viewpoint. He asks her whether there is a Yellow and Red color flashing alternatively in the glass viewpoint. The lady says No. He responds that means the motor is not running. Then he asks do you see any of the LEDs labelled E1/E2/etc turned ON? She says yes E1 alone is glowing. He responds that means the switch assembly is gone bad. He says "Madam, we will send our service engineer with tools and for worst case a replacement unit of switch assembly with in two days".
Two days later the service engineer comes, checks and finds a replacement of switch assembly is required. In few minutes he fixes everything. Charges for part and service.
I know it will cost little more money. But when things fail, it anyway costs money, frustration, loss of good will, etc.
NOW IF YOU ARE A STUDENT IN FINAL YEAR GRADUATION AND WILLING TO DO SUCH A PROJECT - I CAN CO-SPONSOR and CO-PARTICIPATE
# posted by Sugumar (சுகுமார்) @ 4:21 AM 
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