Feasibility studies — AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design
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Feasibility studies explained
A feasibility study asks, before money and tooling are committed, whether a proposed design can actually be made, at what cost, with what resources and whether anyone will buy it.
Read the full explanation
It tests practicality for production: can the chosen materials and processes achieve the tolerances, can existing machinery or new tooling cope, are components available, what are unit costs at the intended volume, and does the design meet relevant standards. A key method is testing prototypes with potential consumers, gathering feedback on function, ergonomics, aesthetics and usability so weaknesses are found early, when changes are cheap. The study then informs a go/no-go decision, reducing financial risk.
Your focus
- Explain what a feasibility study is and why it is carried out before production.
- Describe how feasibility studies assess the practicality of producing a proposed design.
- Explain how testing prototypes with potential consumers informs feasibility decisions.
Feasibility studies exam tips
Marking Points
- Defines a feasibility study as an early assessment of whether a proposed design can be produced practically and viably before full commitment.
- Explains that it examines production practicality: materials, processes, tolerances, available machinery, tooling and component supply.
- Recognises cost and volume considerations, such as unit cost at the intended production scale and investment in tooling.
- Explains that testing prototypes with potential consumers gathers feedback on function, ergonomics, aesthetics and usability.
- States that early consumer testing reveals weaknesses while changes are still cheap, reducing financial risk.
- Concludes that feasibility findings support a go/no-go decision before large investment is committed.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Link each feasibility factor to a concrete example, such as checking whether a chosen polymer can hold a required tolerance.
- 💡When asked about prototypes, name what consumers assess, for example grip, ease of use or appearance.
- 💡Emphasise the purpose: reducing risk and informing a go/no-go decision before investment.
- 💡Use precise terms such as tooling, tolerances and unit cost rather than vague words like 'checking it works'.
Common Mistakes
- Treating a feasibility study as the same as a final quality check after production; correction: it happens early, before full production is committed, to decide whether to proceed.
- Assuming feasibility only concerns cost; correction: it also covers technical practicality such as materials, processes, tolerances and component availability.
- Thinking prototypes are tested only by designers; correction: testing with potential consumers gives realistic feedback on usability and desirability.
- Believing consumer testing is a marketing afterthought; correction: it is a core part of feasibility, revealing problems while changes remain inexpensive.