Medical

Dynamic Controls Shark

Project Objectives

Dynamic Controls produces most of the worlds powered wheelchair controllers.  50% of these are from the Shark product range.  As volumes ramped up to meet global demand, the limitations of the original design for Design For manufacture (DFM), installation, servicing and spare parts, became a constraint on profit.  InFact was engaged to look at these issues.

Our Approach

Dynamic had several teams working on electronic software and industrial design elements of the product range. Conceptual work was undertaken to trial DFM techniques and automation was a major driver in this.  InFact was involved in the mechanical engineering of the product and its manufacturing system.   Extensive environmental and compliance testing was also undertaken.   The cost reduction targets, integration with electronics and the supply chain requirements were some of the issues to resolve.

Outcome

Shark is Dynamic’s most successful product range.  It has huge market penetration and many of the design solutions incorporated in these products have been carried into subsequent designs and have become embedded in many Invacare (parent) products.