Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-28-2023
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Engineering
First Advisor
Jack McClurg
Second Advisor
Denise Theobald Roberts
Third Advisor
Scott Kilpatrick
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Backpacking and exploration of the great outdoors has surged in popularity in the 21st century, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic called for many to change their hobbies and interests. Additionally, many people explore new, remote locations as a way of breaking free from the chains of addiction to media and reliance on technology. Our team experienced this shift firsthand as our interest in backpacking and exploration has grown in recent years. Upon our reflection of this newfound hobby, we realized that the camping equipment market was missing one thing: a “do it all” backpacking table.
Our team wanted to address this need in the backpacking community by creating a versatile, lightweight, and durable camping table that will help people experience the beauty found in nature. The product design, cost, and manufacturing process were all developed and chosen with these criteria in mind.
In spring of 2022, we conducted market research through public polls and think tanks. From this research, we established a target market of individuals between the ages of 18-30 years old that are active backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts. This target market is a niche sub-category of the camping equipment and accessory market. Additionally, market research identified four consumer considerations: durability, versatility, weight, and affordability, all of which were considered during each phase of the design and production process.
After establishing a market for our product concept, an outline of future work and procedures was established to manufacture our product. To begin, we would need to convert our drawings and ideas into an initial prototype. This phase of the manufacturing process was critical for success because it served as the foundation of what our product would be down the road. Additionally, this initial prototype was a proof of concept to prove that our design drawing was feasible.
Next, our timeline called for product design and material changes based on our review of the initial prototype. These changes factored in physical limitations and manufacturing process restrictions that would be problematic in the future. For example, the primary design change was related to the coupler that holds all three table legs together at a single point. The initial design was bulky and expensive, so creating a more efficient coupler was necessary.
All three previous stages of our process lead to a final product that resembled the product we set out to create. The final product was lightweight, versatile, and strong. The product itself was nearly flawless.
In review of our final product, the next stage was completing a holistic profitability analysis of the end product since the primary mission of all businesses is to create income for stakeholders. We were able to complete this holistic analysis by combining data from processing time studies, material purchase orders, industry research, and target market surveys. Although we utilized this same data when making design and material decisions, the result of this end-stage financial study proved that our final product and design would be profitable.
Recommended Citation
McSparin, Maren Emily; McWilliams, Michael Preston; and McCullough, John Stewart, "Design and Manufacturing of the Carbon Fiber Roll Table" (2023). Honors Theses. 2894.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2894
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