Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V.

, PMP

Everyday Examples of Mistake-Proofing

1.
3.5 inch diskette cannot be inserted unless diskette is oriented correctly. This is as far as a
disk can be inserted upside-down.
The beveled corner of the diskette pushes a stop in the disk drive out of the way allowing
the diskette to be inserted. This feature, along with the fact that the diskette is not square,
prohibit incorrect orientation.

2.
File cabinets can fall over if too many drawers are pulled out.
For some file cabinets, opening one drawer locks all the rest, reducing the chance of the
file cabinet tipping.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

3.
Fueling area of car has three mistake-proofing devices:
1. filling pipe insert keeps larger, leaded-fuel nozzle from being inserted
2. gas cap tether does not allow the motorist to drive off without the cap
3. gas cap is fitted with ratchet to signal proper
tightness and prevent over-tight4.

Automobile controls have a mistake-proofing device to

insure that the key is in the on position before allowing
the driver to shift out of park. The keys cannot be
removed until the car is in park.

5.
Warning lights alert the driver of potential problems. These devices employ a warning
method
instead
of a
control
method.

6.
Electronic door locks can have three mistake-proofing devices:
1. Ensures that no door is left unlocked.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

2. Doors automatically lock when the car exceeds 18 miles an hour.

3. Lock won't operate when door is open and the engine is running.

7.
Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) compensate for drivers who stomp on the brake. What
used to be a driving error is now the proper braking procedure.

8. New lawn mowers are required to have a safety

bar on the handle that must be pulled back in order to
start the engine. If you let go of the safety bar, the mower
blade stops in 3 seconds or less. This is an adaptation of
the "dead man switch" from railroad locomotives.

9.
Circuit breakers
prevent electrical
overloads and the fires
that result. When the
load becomes too great, the
circuit is broken.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

10.
Even bathroom sinks have a mistake-proofing device. It
is the little hole near the top of the sink that helps prevent
overflows.

11. This iron turns off

automatically when it is
left unattended or when it
is returned to its holder.

12.
The window in the envelope is not only a labor
saving device. It prevents the contents of an
envelope intended for one person being inserted in
an envelope address to another.

13.
The dryer stops operating when the door is
opened, which prevents injuries.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

14.
Automatic light switch in kids' bathroom turns
light on automatically. After the bathroom has
been unoccupied for a few minutes, the light
goes off automatically. The error of forgetting to
turn off the light is eliminated.

15.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

This wall mounted hair dryer has two

slots on either side of the switch.
(One slot is partially covered by
my thumb.) The bracket on the
wall has two pointed prongs that
go through the two slots and turn
the dryer off if the user neglected
to do so.

16.Parking garages have low clearance.

To insure that cars entering the
garage will fit, garages are fitted
with a go/no-go gauge at the
entrance. Hitting the swinging
sign or pipe will not damage the
vehicle as much as driving into a
concrete beam.

17.
Compiled by Manjunatha.B.V., PMP

Both the sink are fitted with light

sensors. These sensors insure that the
water is turned off in the sink and that
the urinal is flushed.

18.