The CareFree Cook Project Proposal

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The CareFree CookProject Proposal

• CS 410
• Group 2
• Spring 2004
• Website
• 14 March 2004

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Team Members
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Problem Statement

• The challenge of cooking meat can produce
  inconsistent results in both the quality and
  safety of prepared food.

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Problem Characteristics

• Over- or undercooked meat
• Inconvenience of constant monitoring
• Food poisoning
• Lack of expert cooking knowledge

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Solution Statement

• Develop a wireless meat thermometer that
  interfaces with an oven control unit to provide
  accurate and autonomous cooking.

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Solution Characteristics

• What the CareFree Cook will do
• Allow user to input the type, weight, desired
  taste and completion time of a cut of meat.
• Provide user with pertinent cooking information.
• Automatically start, monitor and cook the meat
  shutting oven off at the appropriate time.
• Reduce occurrence of food poisoning.

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Solution Characteristics

• What the CareFree Cook will not do
• Interfere with the traditional operation the
  oven.
• Eliminate food poisoning.
• Support baked goods other than meats.
• Retrofit to existing ovens.

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Goals

• Develop a CareFree Cook prototype.
• Contract with a leading oven manufacturer for
  inclusion of our product into their existing
  product line.
• Initiate an advertising campaign, extolling the
  virtues of the CFC to overcome societal
  reluctance to embrace the product.

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Prototype Development Objectives

• Prepare cost analysis for project completion
• Develop probe hardware
• Implement wireless communication
• Develop appliance hardware interface
• Develop control unit software interface
• Obtain FCC FDA approval

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Technical

• Required Hardware
• LCD Display
• Clock/Timer
• Wireless transmitter / receiver
• Thermistor or thermocouple
• Battery
• Insulation
• Processor / microcontroller

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Technical

• Of the listed components, only the battery is
  uncommon.
• Spectrum Batteries Inc. provides Lithium /
  Thionyl Chloride batteries.
• LiSOCl2 batteries operate to 400F.
• Microtherm insulation can further enhance the
  temperature range.

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Technical

• Required Software
• User interface
• Database of cooking times and temperatures
• Hardware layer controls
• Wireless communication protocol

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Major Functional Components
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Potential Markets

• Primary customers

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Target Market Sears

• Profile
• Sears has dominated the major appliance market
  for decades.
• 7 billion of Sears 31.5 billion sales is in
  major appliances.
• Most profitable credit card business, which
  accounts for 60 of a 2.5 billion total
  operating profit.
• Appliance sales are crucial to credit business
  since most are purchased on credit (nearly 40).

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Target Market Sears

• Current Status
• Recent figures show a decline in Sears market
  share for major home appliances.
• Rising competition for Lowes and Home Depot has
  notably affected sales.
• Sears market share in appliances dropped nearly
  3 within the last year from 41.4 to 38.5.

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Target Market Analysis

• Sears Kenmore can introduce this new innovative
  technology giving them a niche, exclusive to the
  Sears Kenmore line, leading range ovens into a
  new era of cooking.

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Target Market Analysis

• Thanks to the historically low interest rates and
  a distrust of the financial markets, consumers
  re-financed their mortgages and re-invested the
  windfall in their homes.
• New home sales have grown and are still growing,
  promoting growth in major appliance sales of
  which range ovens hold a significant share.

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Target Market Analysis

• In June 2003, Sears began to refresh their image
  as the best place to shop for appliances. The
  CareFree Cook component will prove to be a highly
  profitable and marketable item for todays home
  owners who demand new and innovative products.

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Competition Matrix
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Potential Market
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Risks Mitigation

• Social acceptance
• Limited resources
• Costly components
• Limited market

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Risk Mitigation

• Social acceptance (likely/severe)
• Easy and intuitive interface.
• Advertising campaign emphasizing convenience and
  health benefits.
• Limited financial resources (likely/severe)
• Pursue funding from government agencies.
• Obtain capital investment from major manufacturer.

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Risk Mitigation

• Costly components (probable/severe)
• Design probe for ten-year lifespan.
• Limited market (possible/severe)
• Fashion control unit to mesh easily and
  seamlessly with existing models.
• Ensure per unit price is competitive with other
  convenience accessories.
• Extensive advertising.

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Staff Budget
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Development Costs
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Income Statement
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Budget

• Time to market 1 year
• Initial costs 197,000 plus materials cost per
  unit.
• Return On Investment 4 months

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Conclusion

• The required technology exists, is inexpensive,
  and readily available.
• The required resources are minimal and can be
  acquired in a timely manner.
• The societal objections can be overcome though
  advertising and exposure to the product.