Chapter 8 The Making of a New Balance

Chapter 8: The Making of a New Balance Shoe Christine Epplett

Who is Christine Epplett? § An biomechanical engineer § Works at New Balance Athletic Shoe.

Key Words § Manufacturing Processes § § § § Separating Forming Assembling Molding and casting Conditioning Finishing Quality control § Trade-off

Separating § Removing unwanted materials

Forming § Using pressure or force to shape a material

Assembling § Putting parts of a product together

Casting/ Molding § Pouring a liquefied material into a mold, allowing it to solidify in the shape of the mold, then removing the solidified material from the mold.

Conditioning § Any process that uses high temperatures, chemicals, or force to change the properties of a material.

Finishing § Any final treatment done to the surface of the product to make it more attractive to a consumer

Quality Control § A test or series of tests on samples from the production line to ensure that only high-quality products leave the plant.

Christine Epplett is a … A. A manufacturing engineer B. An biomechanical engineer C. A CAD technician D. Industrial Designer

Conditioning is the process to … A. Remove unwanted materials B. Putting parts of a product together C. Any final treatment done to the surface of the product. D. Change the properties of materials.

Using pressure or force to shape a material is … A. Forming B. Assembling C. Finishing D. Quality control

What is one trade-off that the New Balance management makes? § A trade-off is a decision to give up one quality to gain another quality. § New Balance never lays off employees, but it costs.

Who are the members of the team involved in Research and Development? § Designers, marketers, manufacturing designers, biomechanical engineers, CAS team members, process engineers, manufacturing associates, and quality-control personnel.

How does some engineers at NB test prototypes? §By asking people to try them on and by trying them on themselves and wearing them over a period time.