Feasibility Study: Feasibility Study: PensPens

Group Seven: Erick Hernandez, Thomas McCullough, Wendy Grogg,

Bredric Berry

IntroductionIntroduction• College students need school supplies• Students tend to look for the most affordable

items• For this study, we chose to compare the cheapest

of different brands of pens• The brands consist of:

o PaperMateo Pentelo Uni-Ballo Pilot

Rating SystemRating System• For this study, Group seven decided that each

member rate the pens on a scale of 1 to 4o The brand in first place received a score of “1”o The brand in second place received a score of “2”o The brand in third place received a score of “3”o The brand in fourth place received a score of “4”

• Each member’s scores are added and the pen with the lowest rating wins that testo Lowest possible score being a “4”(Best)o Highest possible score being a “16”(Worst)

Overview of Options and Overview of Options and CriteriaCriteria

• For this study a standard had to be established to compare similar pens

• The criteria consists of:o The cheapest package

of each brando Black ink

Figure 1: 4 Brands of Pens

Test 1: Methods and ResultsTest 1: Methods and Results• First method of testing involves price• To conduct test 1:

1. Compare the four brands to determine the cheapest pens and the number of pens per package

• dd

Figure 2: Pricing

Test 1: Methods and ResultsTest 1: Methods and Results• Results:

• Rating:

Brand Price Pens per Package

Unit Price

PaperMate $0.94 12 $0.078

Pentel $0.98 2 $0.48

Pilot G2 $2.67 2 $1.335

Uni-Ball $2.97 2 $1.485

Table 1: Prices

Brand Rating

Paper Mate 4

Pentel 8

Pilot 12

Uni-Ball 16

Table 2: Rating

Test 2: Methods and ResultsTest 2: Methods and Results• The second method of

testing involves the smear of the ink.

• To conduct test 21. Write a simple phrase on regular

notebook paper with each pen2. Rub a hand across the phrase

several times to simulate what would actually happen.

3. Repeat the process for accuracy.4. Rank the pens from least amount of

smear to greatest amount.

Figure 3: Smear Test

Test 2: Methods and ResultsTest 2: Methods and Results• Results:

• Uni-Ball gave no smear and PaperMate had a barely visible smear.

• Pilot had the greatest smear.• Uni-Ball won the smear test.

Brand Rating

Uni-Ball 4

Paper Mate 8

Pentel 12

Pilot 16

Figure 4: Uni-Ball won

Table 3: Smear rating

Test 3: Methods and ResultsTest 3: Methods and Results• The third method of

testing involves clarity and the quality of the ink.

• For this test, a study was conducted on how clearly each pen wrote

• To conduct test 3:1. Choose one person to write a

simple phrase on regular notebook paper

2. Vote individually on the quality and clarity of how each pen writes

Figure 5: Clarity Test

Test 3: Methods and ResultsTest 3: Methods and Results• Results:

• Group seven observed that Uni-Ball is the most legible and precise.

• Pilot had thickest font while Pentel had the thinnest.

• PaperMate did not write smoothly

Brand Rating

Uni-Ball 7

Pilot 8

Pentel 10

Paper Mate 16

Table 4: Clarity Rating

Figure 6: Clarity test winner

Test 4: Methods and ResultsTest 4: Methods and Results• The fourth method of testing involves comfort.

Students often consider the comfort of a pen before purchasing.

• To conduct test 4:1. Hold each pen to decide the comfort of the pen.2. Rank each brand from most comfortable to least comfortable.

Figure 7: Uni-Ball Figure 8: Pilot Figure 9: Pentel Figure 10: PaperMate

Test 4: Methods and ResultsTest 4: Methods and Results• Results:

• PaperMate lost the test as the worst pen in regards to comfort because it had no gripper.

• Uni-Ball won the comfort test.

Brand Rating

Uni-Ball 6

Pilot 8

Pentel 10

Paper Mate 16

Table 5: Comfort Rating

Figure 11: Comfort test winner

ConclusionsConclusions• PaperMate pens are the most cost effective.• Uni-Ball exceeds its competitors in all other

categories.• Even though Uni-Ball had the highest cost, its

superior results show that the extra money goes a long way.

• PaperMate, being the cheapest, ranked last in every other category.

Brand Price Rating

Smear Rating

Clarity Rating

Comfort Rating

OVERALL RATING

Uni-Ball 16 4 7 6 31

Pentel 8 12 10 10 42

Pilot 12 16 8 8 44

Paper Mate 4 8 16 16 44

Table 6: Overall Rating

RecommendationRecommendation• Our feasibility report

compared the Pentel, Uni-Ball, Pilot, and PaperMate pen brands.

• Through each of the different tests, Uni-Ball resulted as the pen with the best score.

• The Uni-Ball pen has the best overall rating when comparing o Priceo Smearo Clarityo Comfort Figure 12: Uni-Ball is

the best pen to purchase