GE Appliances wants to turn your design ideas into new products

[Chetlaham]

When I saw this first thing I thought was AW.org. I can think of many ideas that can make it big, or at least influence appliances today. Whats so cool is that they let ordinary people have a say instead of confidential corporate meetings that crank out products consumers never wanted in the first place (think Whirlpool Polera range lol). What do you think?

http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/20/sma...x.html?sr=cnnmoneybin072016geproduct930VODtop

 

[arbilab]

Here's an idea:  When the government tells them how to design washers, tell the government to go flock itself.

 

[vacerator]

Companies do

consider input from consumers already.
As far as government is concerned, if the Haier acquisition happens, since Haier is controlled by the Chinese govt., and it is aware of the global population of nearly 8 billion with limited fresh water, and natural resourses, do the math your self.

 

[washman]

here! here!

"Here's an idea: When the government tells them how to design washers, tell the government to go flock itself."

+1

Let the marketplace decide!

 

[beekeyknee]

China's population is nearly 1,400,000,000 with India not far behind at nearly 1,350,000,000. It seems Asia is the biggest problem so why should they be dictating anything to us? Sorry. I realize this wasn't supposed to be the original concept of this thread. Here's what's really going on. This is unsustainable!

http://www.census.gov/popclock/

 

[vacerator]

Of course our

population is lower "now". Key word now. There are Chinese also emigrating here already. China is the big producer today for the world.
Read between the lines. Do you think it was unintentional?
It had less to do with high wages and productivity here at home.
Richard Nixon first visited China in 1969.
The world has helped China reduce it's poverty caused by Chairman Mao's failed experiment.
If too many people crowd one nation, and are not allowed to move elsewhere, they always find a way to get there, since the beginning of civilization.
Gangis Kahn, Atilla the Hun invaded Turkey, Napolean, Helena of Troy, Alexander the Great, etc.

 

[vacerator]

Or am I

a brain donor making the big picture larger than life?
Keep in mind that when the EPA, etc. set a standard, that it takes years if not decades to materialize.
The new 50 mile per gallon café fuel economy standard is one of those.
By 2025? Now we all know that a vehicle today rated at 30 m.p.g. averages more around 25.
Another is my low water use washing machine which now at age 5 fills at least half way up on any given cycle. It didn't used to. That's twenty gallons on normal, and 40 on bulky. Now even the Midwest is in a drought here currently.
So not a big deal for one household, but multiplied by 300,000 homes water use?
Half nice day now all yunz.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Looks like I want to go in there & design the OLD ideas: A Mini Basket...  Sense-Temp... A Filter-Flo...  Round Ice Cubes...  Even Toggle Switches...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[henene4]

So you don't understand democracy...

If the majority of Americans would be upset by the regulations put up by the government, it won't be your government any longer pretty soon. You know, if you hate them, don't ellect them.

Why don't they regulate China? Are they the chinese government? No.
And I know that's kind of besides the point, so another point of view: Why act against drug crimes in the US? I mean, Columbia has a bigger drug problem, so why dictate what Americans can and can't consume. (And I kniw, both are topics better suited to the Dirty Laundry section...)

And while that GE thing seems like a neat idea, it is a cheap source of R&D. 0.5% sales participation MAX? That is like 5k$ for each 1M$. Haven't looked up their 2015 finance report, but that seems lousy. They probably have 10% or so revenue margin on their applainces section...

 

[vacerator]

Some things may come to the needs of the many over

the needs of the few. Appliances are not GE's primary core business, that's why it is/was for sale. Maybe they are reconsidering though. It's healthcare, nuclear, jet engine, locomotive, and lighting are.
The USA has a Federal Trade Commission which regulates monopolies, etc.
If thy were non democratic, as in the former eastern bloc, they'd have never broken up AT&T.
Take BSHC just for example. It gets complicated because although Bosch brands are all under the umbrella, there are still enough various price points, and brands which do not monopolize. You have Gaggenau at the high end, Siemens in the middle and the US division's products at the low end. If GE, Whirlpool and Electrolux were way smaller competitors, they would file a lawsuit claiming a monopoly and unfair competition.
Then we have the FCC which regulates broadcasting, and communications. Military devices take precident over all consumer devices. They must accept all interference from the former, but may also not cause interference to them.
General Motors had a chance to build a safer car before federal safety regulations came along. Did they learn from the mistakes of the Corvair? No.
The there are regualtions made to try and help consumers and insurance companies save money. The 5 mile per hour bumper standard for example. it was meant to reduce frivolous small insurance claims. It also added weight, flat in the middle of the 70's oil crisis, and hindered styling. It is no longer.

 

[Chetlaham]

democracy...

Not so much. Americans are highly apathetic creatures and seem to put up with anything. Americans just don't understand and in turn think its normal/trendy to have a machine that can't clean and breaks down after 6 months. All thanks to education and media or rather what it fails to do. Today's generation is by far the worse. They know nothing about old machines other than they seem old and thus "waste" energy and the latest is always the greatest. When any short falls do come up they simply assume that is the best the laws of physics will allow and deal with it. Modern society marinates in mediocrity as they are told its the best of the best. Nothing could be further from the truth but its the thinking that permeates everything. Manufactures play off of it making obscene profit in the process.

 

[cammurray22]

Redesigned GE Filter Flo washers

2017 GE FF washers with a super capacity.

 

[joeypete]

I think consumer input is essential to good sales and business. It does seem like not just GE, but other manufacturers are also taking consumer opinions into account when making design changes. As evidenced in the new WP top loads that allow for deep fill option.

Government regulations don't always make sense, I'll def agree with that. But unfortunately most citizens don't give a flying flip about the environment or energy conservation unless it affects them directly. If we did everything the way citizens wanted it done, willy nilly, we'd be in a huge mess and no one would take responsibility for it. There are plenty of used options out there for clothes and dish washers that any of us now certainly don't have to worry about being over regulated.

 

[Chetlaham]

Energy conservation / environment

I call BS, I mean a machine that becomes disposable every 5 years wastes far more than a dishwasher using a few extra gallons of water.

 

[vacerator]

Both valid points

Joey and Robert. It is true that it takes as much energy to replace a younger worn out appliance than it saved in energy during it's shorter life span, even with recycling.
Lets see if they take any of that advice.
When automobiles had more steel in them, they weighed more, so used more oil for fuel, but a car with more plastic in it uses as much petroleum to make the plastic as it saves in fuel.
Do we have cleaner air today with less steel production? Yes, and not much plastic is made stateside either. China has the pollution today. Seems we picked our poison.