Proposal ETP Group 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page

___________________________________________________________________________

1. ABSTRACT ……………………. 1
2. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS ……………………. 2
3. OBJECTIVE STATEMENT ……………………. 4
4. PROBLEM STATEMENT ……………………. 5
5. DESIGN APPROACH/ METHODOLOGY ……………………. 6
5.1 Procedures ……………………. 6
5.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project ……………………. 7
5.3 Hardware/Tools and Software ……………………. 8
6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT ……………………. 9
6.1 Task Allocation and Activities ……………………. 9
6.2 Gantt Chart (Project flow) ……………………. 10
6.3 Organization Chart ……………………. 11
7. REFERENCES ……………………. 11
8. APPENDICES ……………………. 12

1. ABSTRACT

In this century, most women gave higher priority to their careers instead of house
chores like folding clothes. This issue has becomes a burden to many people. Folding clothes

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plays an important role in our daily life as they prevent our house from looking messy while
making closet and drawers look more organize. There are two important factors that need to
be considered when it comes into folding clothes correctly, which are wrinkle prevention and
space conservation. In order for clothes to fit tidily inside suitcase or a drawer, the folded
clothes must be folded in a correct manner and in a correct way. It is also important for the
clothes to stay wrinkle-free. However, there are still some people who do not know how to
fold clothes correctly. Different people may have their own way to fold clothes and as well
may find difficulties in doing it. The majorities of this group are men and small children. For
professionals, most of them have very limited time to do it. We find that most people keep
their clean laundry for quite a few days before folding them. Thus causing them to fold huge
amount of clothes at a time in which, this process may takes time.

Due to our concern towards this issue, we have come out with the implementation of a
device that enables the user to fold their laundry shirts automatically and efficiently, while
also reduce wrinkles on the shirts. With the help of this device folding clothes, it will be a lot
easier and faster job for them. Our team has done researches and a detailed methodology to be
revised throughout our acquisition and operation stage. Updates will be done frequently for
the methodology section whenever appropriate to make our project a success. The task
allocations are distributed equally to ensure the completion and equality of work tasks based
on the Gantt chart.

2. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS

Malaysia is experiencing an economic growth since 1988. A study done by Aminah Ahmad
(1998), proves that in the past few decades, much progress has been evolved in narrowing the
gender gap in Malaysia. Malaysian women are highly important contributors to the country’s
economic and social development. Accordingly, Sweat (2011), discusses how working
families manage to handle the family workloads which have increasesd a great deal from
several decades ago. It is proven that since the late 1960s and 1970s, women have been

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juggling work and family responsibilities when large numbers of them started entering the
workforce.

Linda Waite, a sociologist at University of Chicago says that working moms are still doing
most of the housework. Most found that although they were able to find fulfillment in their
day job, they were still doing the majority of the housework and childcare once they got home
in the evenings. Maids are hired as an option by some families in order to take care of their
house works. However, we have to consider that not all families could afford to pay for maids.
Given the cons of having maids nowadays, has made people doubtful to get the services.

For that reason, there are many home appliances available in the market to lessen
housework burden. Folding laundry can be a tedious task. Without folding, the closets and
drawers are such a mess. Clothes could be hard to find and usually wrinkled when they are
found. When laundry is done, clothes need to be folded neatly and to the same size. Hence,
rooms will be more organize with less clutter and clothes will be neat and wrinkle-free.
Initially, the basic way to fold cloth is by using hand. To fold it even faster, shirts are folded in
Japanese Way. After that, people make use of folding board to ease their folding. Using this
folding board, the clothes are folded over a rectangular shaped board, and then the board is
slipped out for a crisp, professional fold.

Debbee (2008), states that in her professional retail-buying career, she have seen the
constant challenge that folding clothes presents. In addition, she affirms that retailers and
manufacturers waste countless hours on arranging clutter and folding clothes for store
presentation and shipping. She claims that folding is a business expense not only in dollars
but also in customer service. In view of that, she invented Flip FOLD, the Ultimate Laundry
Organizer, as she realized that this versatile folding tool could do more than just help her kids
with folding clothes. Flip FOLD allows all forms of businesses in the garment industry to fold
clothes in a quick, consistent and uniform manner.
Outline of folding methods:
 Hand folding

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 Japanese Way
 Folding board
 Flip FOLD

Shirt folding board

Flip FOLD

Concisely, instead of folding clothes manually, our research and project innovation
aimed to invent an automated folding organizer. An automated folding organizer will fold the
clothes automatically within a few seconds after the switch button is activated. Alternatively,
the flipping mechanism is handled by mechanical means thus enhancing the efficiency of
folding clothes than the manual practices. In particular, we intend to turn out this automatic
folding organizer into one of the home organizing tools, which is worthy to own for
households’ usage as well as industries.

3. OBJECTIVE STATEMENT
There are several objectives in doing this project, which is the AutoFold 2.0. However,
the main objectives that we want to achieve are:
i. To reduce burden and time spend in folding clothes. As we all well informed,
folding clothes may consume huge amount of precious time especially for some
people who are in a rush. Example is for parents who both work. This may become a
problem for them. Thus, this automatic shirt folder can help them save the time by this
folding all types of clothes in a very short time.
ii. To assist kids in folding clothes. For kids who do not know how to fold clothes but
wanted to help their parents in doing so, they can learn how to fold clothes by using
this machine.
iii. To make closet and drawers more organized while reducing the storage space. By
folding all the clothes tidily, we can actually organize our own closet and drawers

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instead of dumping all the clothes that are not folded into the closet. Thus, it can help
in reducing and minimizing the storage space.
iv. To create a user friendly clothes folder. It is user friendly because it can be used
easily by just pushing one button on it and the rest, let the folder did all the folding.

4. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Nowadays, folding clothes has become a regular chore in our daily life and it has
become a necessity. Ignoring these chores will make a person living place messy and
unorganized. Finding clothes to be wear daily will then immersed as a problem. There are
several problems discovered in folding clothes. The problems are as follow:

i. There are people who do not know how to fold clothes properly. The majorities of this
group are men and small children. The outcome of the folded clothes is usually
unsightly and takes up a lot of closet space.

ii. Folding clothes are hard and time consuming. Many people have other more important
agenda to attend to compared to folding clothes. They need to allocate time for
completing other works too.

iii. Folded clothes are sometimes uneven and not presentable. Such problem could not be
compromised in professional retail buying career. Business and customers will reduce
in no time.

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5. DESIGN APPROACH/ METHODOLOGY

5.1 Procedures

i. Design the major part of the shirt folder consisting four separated parts using material
from box. Cut the box according to the specified dimensions for each part.

B C

ii. Attach gear and rod alongside part A so that it will link to part B, C and D in order to
make the flip and fold movement. (Only part B, C and D will flip and fold, whereas
part A static).
iii. Place small hinges at the circle to connect part B, C and D to the major part, part A.
This is to ease the flip fold movement of the parts.
iv. Include motors to part A so that it connect to the gear and rod.
v. Finally, include power supply, e.g. battery, timer (to smoothen the movement
accordingly) and a switch to on the mechanism. When the mechanism is switched on,
it will run automatically until all working parts finish their task (until shirt is folded
completely and nicely).

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5.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project

START
Brainstorming among team
members

Define Problem

Come out with the title of the project

Consult SV

NO
Get approval

YES

Completing project proposal

Prototype design

NO
Practicality

YES

Design specification

Prototype fabrication

NO Improve the fabrication

Quality of fabrication. prototype
YES
Good?

Testing
NO
Recheck the prototype Function
and correct any problem successfully?
that occurred YES
Presentation and Exhibition

Final report
5.3 Hardware/Tools and Software
END

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These are the hardware/tools and software needed in order to make the prototype model.

No. Name Description

1 Battery To act as the power supply
2 Connection wires To connect the electronic parts
3 Dynamo To act as the power/energy generator
4 Electronic components Used for circuit completion
5 Epoxy (adhesive) Used to bond the hinge onto the board (alternative for screw)
6 Gear To lift the side wings of the shirt folder
7 Hinge To connect the plastic board of the shirt folder
8 Integrated circuit To perform logical operation
9 Board To make the shirt folder
10 Screw To connect the hinge to the board
11 Switch Electrical component to make and break the connection in
electrical circuit
12 Timer To set the time in between the lifting of the shirt folder
Table 1: List of hardware needed

No. Name Description

1 Hand tools
2 Welding equipments
Table 2: List of tools needed
Used to build the prototype model. E.g., saw, measured tape,
wires and etc.
Equipment such as electrode holder, electrode, cable and
welding power source which are used to join each parts of the
model

No. Name Description

1 AutoCAD Used for drawing of model in 2D and 3D mode
2 CATIA Used for technical drawing
3 Microsoft Office Used for documentation; proposal, progress report and final
report
4 MPLab Used to program the integrated circuit
5 Multisim Used in circuit design
Table 3: List of software needed

6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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Description of Tasks Action taken by

Ahmad Ahmad Aqilah Athirah Lim Mohd
Faruq Faridzuan Juani Raidz
CONCEPT DESIGN
 Brainstorming among team members x x x x x x
 Consultation with supervisor x x x x x x
PROJECT PROPOSAL
 Decide which project should be chosen x x x x x x
 Assessment using the Project Assessment x x x x x x
Rubric
DETAIL DESIGN
 Structural Analysis, Mechanical Design, x x x x x x
Research, Draft Sketching of Working
Prototype
 Structural Drawing (AUTOCAD) x
PROGRESS REPORT
 Details of the activities x x x x x x
 Identification of potential problem x x x x x x
 Calculation, data collection, and benefit- x x x x x x
cost analysis
MARKET RESEARCH
 Surveying on the cost of materials needed x x x x x x
 Purchasing materials x x x x x x
 Collecting the electrical component from x
the laboratory
DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE
 Fabrication of the system x x x x x x
 Program the circuit x
 Test the program and circuit x x x x x x
 Assemble all parts x x x x x x
 Run a full test x x x x x x
 Complete prototype x x x x x x
 Refine, Modification x x x x x x
 Evaluation on fabrication x x x x x x
POSTER PRESENTATION/ x x x x x x
DEMONSTRATION
EDX
 Brochures, catalog, poster x x x x x x
 Exhibition x x x x x x
FINAL REPORT
 Doing discussion, first, second draft x x x x x x
 Edit drafts, make the final report x x x x x x
 Submission of final report x x x x x x
6.1 Task Allocation and Activities

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PROJECT FLOW/TASK PERSON WEEK/DATE

IN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
CHARGE 24/1- 31/1- 7/2- 14/2- 21/2- 28/2- 7/3- 14/3- 21/3- 28/3- 4/4- 11/4- 18/4- 25/4-
30/1 6/2 13/2 20/2 27/2 6/3 13/3 20/3 27/3 3/4 10/4 17/4 24/4 29/4
CONCEPT DESIGN
 Brainstorming among team members ALL
 Consultation with supervisor
PROJECT PROPOSAL
 Decide which project should be chosen ALL
 Assessment using the Project Assessment
Rubric
DETAIL DESIGN
 Structural Analysis, Mechanical Design, ALL
Research, Draft Sketching of Working
Prototype FARUQ
 Structural Drawing (AUTOCAD)
PROGRESS REPORT
 Details of the activities ALL
 Identification of potential problem
 Calculation, data collection, and benefit-cost
analysis
MARKET RESEARCH
 Surveying on the cost of materials needed ALL
 Purchasing materials
 Collecting the electrical component from the
laboratory
DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE
 Fabrication of the system ALL
 Program the circuit
 Test the program and circuit
 Assemble all parts
 Run a full test
 Complete prototype
 Refine, Modification
 Evaluation on fabrication
POSTER PRESENTATION/ DEMONSTRATION ALL

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EDX
 Brochures, catalog, poster ALL
 Exhibition
FINAL REPORT
 Doing discussion, first, second draft ALL
 Edit drafts, make the final report
 Submission of final report
6.2 Gantt Chart (Project flow)

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6.3 Organization Chart

LEADER
AHMAD FARUQ BIN ZULKIFLI
Conduct all meeting
Plan weekly agenda
Monitor progress of project
Make sure progress on track

SECRETARY
ATHIRAH BINTI AMER TREASURER
HAMZAH MOHD RAIDZ BIN OSMAN
Keep record all the data and Keep track on group account
documents Estimating budget for the project
Makesure group literature and Person in charge in claims
documentation are done
properly

RESEARCH &
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DESIGN DEPARTMENT AQILAH JUANI BINTI ABDUL
LIM WIN SHEN
AHMAD FARIDZUAN BIN HALIM
Search suitable and relevant
ZAKERIA Designing technical part of the
resources
project
Leading the design process Provide the whole team with
Ensure project materials are in
Design the prototype of the project suitable information regarding
shape
the project

7. REFERENCES

Aminah Ahmad, December 1998, Women In Malaysia, 7th February 2011, from
http://www.adb.org/documents/books/country_briefing_papers/women_in_malaysia/wo
men_malaysia.pdf

Becky Sweat, August 2008, Career, Home and Family: Can Women Really Do It All?, 7th
February 2011, from http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn77/career-home-family-can-
women-really-do-it-all.htm

The Ultimate Folding Tool, Flip FOLD, 2010, 7th February 2011, from
http://www.flipfold.com/acatalog/ourstory.htm

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8. APPENDICES
Here are some sketches on the design of the shirt folder that we would like to make.

2D view of project model.

3D view of the project model.

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