One of the biggest challenges in designing an open platform was for it to remain relevant to a long tail of musicians with different needs, styles and skills. The design was not focused on a specific instrument but on a new system that enable the creation of “mass production” of unique one of a kind.
This challenge meant that every component (different function) should have similar visual aspects and similar attachment solution even though they are different in size, material, weight and in their function. The components would not be a specific instrument without being assembled together by the users. Overall this platform should also be open to accept outside components that may be attached easily to the basic platform and still look cool.
In order to maintain the continuity of evolving instruments every component and future development would have the same attachment method.
The benefits of this design is that all of the parts are also spare parts regardless of their version or manufacturer, keeping them relevant, rather then dumping them as useless waste as soon as a new version has been released.
The Zoybar Hardware kits are manufactured by demand, with no over production and minimum waste. Upgrading means that you no longer need to replace the entire system and that you can trade your past components with others.
This open platform approach also supports local business. Musicians can use local craftsmen to modify or create their unique custom modification in a low cost process.
The production process had to accommodate flexible production scales to variety of solutions.
The concept of lean manufacturing was one of the key design elements that paved the way for configuring the relevant technologies and materials.
Another design approach was to implement cellular manufacturing strategy in the production process. By deconstructing the string instruments to their basic features, every component is produced separately. This design approach creates great flexibility to produce a high variety of low demand products, while maintaining the high productivity of large scale production.
It also helps locating problems and to eliminate overproduction by only producing items when they are needed.
From a R&D perspective, autonomous components means that a component is responsible for a specific function, can be attached and removed independently from the platform and does not have an affect on the other components – regarding attachment and production hierarchy.
The development of new features is done on a real working platform at real-time and can be replaced or produced aside the existing components in a quick transition time.
The development of new features can now be focused entirely on a specific function, and can be collaborative with other developers on the platform.
Developers can continue their research from an advanced stage, solve problems and share information in a low cost model under the same “language” of elements.
In order to reduce costs (Marketing Space, Stores, Salesmen, Importers/Exporters and middle man expenses) the kits are marketed only from the website store in direct sales.
These design steps creates a sustainable platform for emerging decentralized R&D communities,
Taking the challenge of empowering the individual with creation tools to realize their unique needs.