CUSTOMER NEEDS

Before beginning concept generation, it’s necessary to gather and interpret customer statements regarding the project’s design. To gain insight into the project, the sponsors were contacted via email to set up a formal meeting and go over more specifics of the project for clarification. Questions were asked at the meeting to the sponsors to clarify their insight regarding desired aspects of the design. Based on their responses, an engineering interpretation was determined. The information from the meeting was put into the customer needs table.

Customer Needs Table

Question/Prompt	Customer Statement	Interpreted Need
What should this project be able to do?	The float needs to be pulled up hills and turn corners	The float tolerates large inclines
		The float navigates typical street roads with ease
	The float needs to represent the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering	The float represents FAMU and FSU as well as all disciplines of engineering
	The float needs to be used for longer than one year	The float resists failure
		The float operates normally in outdoor weather conditions
What are some of the things you would like this project to do?	The float needs to be easy to store and parts can be replaced	The parts on the float are interchangeable
	The float needs to be used in multiple parades	The float specifications envelop multiple parade constraints

Based on the customer needs table, safety will be the main design constraint, minimizing harm and reliability issues with the project. The design will be able to navigate the parade routes, which includes handling inclines and navigating corners. The project will be robust and withstand normal wear-and-tear, as well as being protected from common outdoor weather conditions. The customer needs provided from the sponsors will aid in designing a higher quality project.