Most product problems shown below can be traced to the Product Development Process.
Maytag Recalls 1.6 Million Refrigerators
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Maytag Corp (a unit of Whirlpool Corp. based in Newton, Iowa) said Tuesday 3/11/2009 that it has voluntarily recalled about 1.6 million refrigerators due to an electrical problem that could create a fire hazard.
The problem has led to 16 incidents ranging from smoke damage to major kitchen damage, Maytag said.
The and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves some Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Maytag, Performa by Maytag and Crosley side-by-side and top freezer refrigerators. They were sold from January 2001 through January 2004 at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders.
The recall notice said an electrical failure in the relay component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.
Maytag said 41 refrigerator ignition incidents have been reported, with 16 resulting in various degrees of damage. Full CPSC Report.
How much will this recall cost Maytag? If they schedule a free in-home repair it would cost about 2 hours x 60 = $120 in labor, plus about $20 for the components, plus overhead. Total cost (at least) = $150x1.6M Units = $240M (240 million dollars).
Zimmer Issues Voluntary Recall
WARSAW, Ind., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) announced voluntary recall of items that do not meet company quality standards. Those items from Zimmer's Othopaedic Surgical Products (OSP) division were made at a plant in Dover, Ohio. The company has also temporarily suspended production and sales of certain items made at the Dover facility.
The OSP division produces a variety of patient care items used to
support orthopaedic surgery, including disposables used in blood
management, surgical wound site debridement and cement accessories. In 2007, Zimmer reported revenues from its OSP and Other product category of $234 million, less than half of which were generated by products affected by the recalls and suspension. These actions are expected to adversely impact 2008 OSP revenues by $70 to $80 million.
Fisher-Price Power Wheels Ride-On Battery-Powered Vehicles
October 22, 1998 - "Fisher-Price, is conducting a voluntary recall involving up to 10 million battery-powered Power Wheels ride-on cars and trucks. The vehicles' electrical components can overheat and cause fires. Children can suffer injuries from fires and house fires can occur. Additionally, wiring problems can prevent the vehicles from stopping. CPSC and Fisher-Price have received approximately 700 reports of electrical components failing and overheating while the cars and trucks were being ridden, charged, parked or stored. About 150 fires have been reported. Nine children suffered minor burns to the hands, legs, or feet; and up to $300,000 in property damage to 22 houses and garages have been reported. There have also been 71 reports of vehicles not stopping. Six children suffered bruises, scratches or bumps when their vehicles hit a car, truck, pole, window or fence."Full Report.
Whirlpool Washing Machine
You start the wash cycle, the machine starts filling with water. You open the door, pour the detergent, and start putting the clothes in. While you are doing that the water stops filling. You close the door but nothing happens. Then you discover that the start knob has been pushed by the door and causes the machine to go to the "off" setting. You pull the knob, water starts filling again. But this time you have to be very careful not to "disturb" the door so it leans "just right" against the knob. Any disturbance and the machine goes to "off" again. To solve this problem you have to glue something to one of the other knobs to create a "Stand-Off", keeping the door away from the control knob.
Pen with Cover that falls
This is a nice looking pen with good shape, writing performance, etc.., but! When you remove the cover and attach it to the back of the pen body, it does not stay in place and falls out as soon as you turn the pen sideways or upside down.
Samsung i700 PDA/Phone
The stylus points downwards. In addition, the fit between the housing and the stylus is not a tight fit. Therefore, after one month of use, the stylus falls out and is "lost". After going through several of replacement stlyus, you'd have to add material (Super Glue is good) to the stylus for it to stay in place.
Ladle and Spatula
These two utincils are badly designed with a heavy handle. The weight destribution is such that they would never stay inside the pan (see video 1, 2, and 3).
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