Flunk Writing Solutions Ltd.

You are in the business of designing and manufacturing writing materials. Your company is
known to come up with innovative designs and you believe that this has been the reason
behind your stupendous success. In fact, creativity and innovation are included in your
company’s mission statement which is – “To provide writing solutions to customers through
creativity and state of the art innovation.”

Among the products that you make, ball-point pens contribute to 40% of the revenue to
your company and you hold 27% market share in ball point pens. You have ISO 12756
certification which is the standard for ball point pens.

Although ballpoint pen designs and construction vary between brands, basic components of
all ballpoint pens are universal. Standard components include the freely rotating ball
point itself (distributing the ink), a socket holding the ball in place, and a self-contained ink
reservoir supplying ink to the ball. In modern disposable pens, narrow plastic tubes contain
the ink, which is compelled downward to the ball by gravity. Brass, steel, or tungsten carbide
are used to manufacture the ball bearing-like points, then housed in a brass socket.

The function of these components can be compared with the ball-applicator of roll-on
antiperspirant; the same technology at a larger scale. The ball point delivers the ink to the
writing surface while acting as a buffer between the ink in the reservoir and the air outside,
preventing the quick-drying ink from drying inside the reservoir. Modern ballpoints are said
to have a two-year shelf life, on average.

The common ballpoint pen is a product of mass production, with components produced
separately on assembly lines. Basic steps in the manufacturing process include production of
ink formulas, moulding of metal and plastic components, and assembly. 

You are operating in a highly competitive scenario. Recently, you have been approached by
a party who is interested in procuring ball point pens from you. You are required to submit a
prototype before the discussion can be taken forward. On an average depending on the
size, 10 - 20 gms of hard plastic and 5-10 gms of soft plastic is required for each pen that
includes the main body and the cap. The manufacturing cost is INR 2.37 per unit , includes
the cost of the body, the cap, spring and the clip. Fixed overheads is INR 0.60 per unit and
80% of manufacturing cost is for the main body without the clip.. You outsource the ink
refills at the cost of INR 0.80 per unit (including GST) irrespective of the ink colour. The GST
per unit is 5% when you sell a ball point pen to your customers.

For this particular party, you have to design a pen, draw the prototype and mention all the
technical as well as non-technical details related to it on a sheet. You are free to define the
scale of the drawing. Consider your faculty as your buyer. For the convenience of both the
parties, your drawing will be considered as the prototype and orders would be placed on
the basis of the prototype. You may use any drawing material if you deem necessary.

This is a group exercise (hope you know your groups) and you have 50 minutes for it. You
may state your terms and conditions on the blank sheet and upload the prototype and
terms and condition my mail id jayanthi@tapmi.edu.in.

Happy designing!

Parts of a ballpen