冷蔵庫の物理的特性からみた商品ラインアップの構造: 商品ラインアップにみるデザイン手法に関する研究(2)

The structure of product line-up was examined from the viewpoint of physical properties for two types of refrigerators, '3-door type' and 'mid-freezer type'.The line-up was for the period when the product variations of six major manufacturers were being expanded. Variations of these two types were classified into five clusters by their physical properties. When their product developments were examined from the chronological point of view, the 3-door type was characterized by "change in quality" where the combinations of clusters underwent changes, and the mid-freezer type by "change in quantity" where the contents of clusters underwent changes. Comparison by manufacturers revealed no remarkable differences in the 3-door type, but differences in the mid-freezer type were quite notable depending on differences in manufacturers' merchandise strategy. Common design features in door handle were also studied in respect to the products of three manufacturers. The design features tended to be the same more notably in the 3-door type than the mid-freezer type, but the tendency in the latter differed according to manufacturers. This was considered mainly due to the difference in door structure.