[BULK] - Re: [pct-l] Manufacturer BearVault comments

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

Ha!
Around here, when a worker get tired, we tell `em to work faster!!!! Or
they get "rotated" out the door!!!!
;)

>From what I can tell, once you open and close it for the first time,
it'd be pretty obvious what it should look like when it's on right. If
that little snap button gets lapped by the lid, you'll just SEE it's not
on right. But that's just me and my high expectations of the average
attention level of backpackers.
After a few oilcans, I'm sure I can screw it up!

Thanks for the heads up, though! I tend to toss instructions with the
package as soon as I rip open my presents...


Here's an idea: Maybe mold the warning message onto the lid or can -
"Hey! Pay Attention!" ;)
 
Now I don't have to search around for that penny I had to unscrew the
Garcia can!

Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m

-----Original Message-----
From: sales@bearvault.com [mailto:sales@bearvault.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 2:36 PM
To: Mike Saenz
Cc: Brian McLaughlin; pct-l@backcountry.net
Subject: RE: [BULK] - Re: [pct-l] Manufacturer BearVault comments

cycle time variation is due to the time a worker takes to remove the lid
from the female half of the mold and then unscrew the lid from the male
half. As they get tired they can take longer to do it, so they rotate
workers.  There is an inevitable variation which will be removed with an
automated unscrewing mold.
We have no way of accurately knowing have many lids are oversize.  What
we do know is if the user looks at the lid when they close it and that
they close it correctly then the product works fine. Of course we would
rather not that this variation in lid size, but we do.  If the user pays
a modicum of attention when they close the product this is not an issue.

Jamie


Quoting Mike Saenz <msaenz@mve-architects.com>:

> I would have previously refrained from commenting on these BearVault 
> e-mails, BUT...
> 
> I am now the proud owner of a BV300 (woo-hoo!). Actually, my buddy 
> just ordered one for me, including it in a bunch of other stuff he's 
> getting for our upcoming trip. I was just informed yesterday that my 
> BV300 has just arrived, but I've not seen it yet...
> 
> So....
> 
> "...cycle time variations."
> What does THAT mean? (just curious)
> 
> And- What percentage of lids have this defect?
> 
> "These oversize lids are only 0.02" larger than nominal, so you cannot

> spot them visually."
> How can I tell if my lid is defective? Considering that a 
> manufacturing tolerance fine enough to allow product failure with a 
> 0.02" deformity, any lid that is affected by this "cycle time 
> variation" can be legitimately called "defective".
> 
> Will BearVault be replacing defective lids?
> 
> Considering the "growing pains" BearVault has (and apparently is 
> still) endured, I am still sold of the product. I've been watching the

> previous "beta versions" of the BearVault and their design adjustments

> from the various field reports that have come in for the past couple 
> years and I kept hoping that the BearVault became at least as bear 
> proof as the Garcia can. I like the weight difference, transparency 
> and volume of the BV, compared to the Garcia can.
> All said and done, I'm still very happy to finally have one of my own!
> 
> Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
> McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
> A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
> MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
> w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
> [mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Brian 
> McLaughlin
> Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:32 AM
> To: bearvault; pct-l@backcountry.net
> Subject: [BULK] - Re: [pct-l] Manufacturer BearVault comments
> 
> 
> 
> > We want to point out an issue with our newer model BV250s and BV300s

> > which the user needs to be aware of. We use a manual mold for the 
> > production of the lid and this can result in some lids being 
> > slightly oversized due to cycle time variations. These oversize lids

> > are only 0.02" larger than nominal...
> 
> I'm fine with all this up to here. It seems a clear explanation of the

> problem, er, "issue".
> 
> > They work perfectly well if you close the lid correctly.
> 
> While I can sympathize with the problems of a small manufacturer 
> making a specialty item for sale to a small market, ultimately this is

> a quality-control problem rather than a failure on the part of
customers.
> It is disingenous to say the oversize lids work "perfectly well."
> 
> > We point out that this can happen in an insert in every unit we
sell. 
> > The insert points out that this is easily remedied...
> 
> As a technical writer, I know the futility of getting customers to 
> read an insert, or to remedy a problem in a product by 'correcting' 
> their behavior. Like it or not, people expect manufactured goods to 
> behave uniformly, and not to vary from batch to batch. One could argue

> we are 'spoiled', but if so, it's just something manufacturers must 
> learn to live with.
> 
> I am very glad to hear the manufacturer plans to invest in better 
> machinery that will result in more reliable tolerances.
> I'm sorry they have encountered problems that aren't due to the 
> integrity of their design, but only to slight variations in the 
> manufacturing process. That's rough. I'm sure they're frustrated by 
> this situation.
> 
> > ...we need you to correctly close your BearVaults if they have an 
> > oversize lid or else you all may lose the option of buying a larger,

> > lighter, easier to use bear canister.
> 
> I hope they succeed at their business, but I'm sure that if they fail 
> it would not be their customers' fault. The tone of these comments 
> very unfortunately sound like they'd like to imply otherwise.
> 
> Just my $0.02.
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