Rugged Product DNA

When we design equipment for the Defense market the ruggedization requirements are typically well understood and specified at the onset of a new development project.  When designing products for other markets; consumer, business equipment, medical....the ruggedization requirements are often not as obvious and can be an afterthought.  Our experience is that durability and ruggedization are  key design considerations in almost every product.  To help our clients bring the conversation of durability to the early stages of the design process, we have developed a design tool, the Juggernaut Ruggedization Scale.  The exercise of  completing the scale highlights challenges and guides decisions throughout the development process.

A couple of examples of products that you wouldn't necessarily consider 'Rugged':

POS Terminals -   We have been involved in the development of many POS devices.  As a piece of 'public' business equipment, these terminals need to withstand an highly abusive environment. Items on the ruggedization scale that can effect design decisions include; button life cycle and graphics wear, material selection and typical wall thickness, sealing for spill resistance and cleaning, changeable touch screen protectors.




Medical Equipment - In researching the daily use scenarios of an expensive surgical x-ray device ,we observed that the equipment took a beating in transporting from room to room and especially in the 'equipment corral' where it was stored with other expensive devices.  This observation lead us to a design solution where the device protects itself in the stowed transport position within a footprint surrounded by bumpers.