Inventiva para generar innovación en procesos productivos tradicionales. Un análisis de caso basado en la teoría del diseño axiomático

Abstract

Production processes that transform agricultural raw materials and rely on tradition are usually present in rural communities, where technique and good practices to achieve product quality and sustainability are limited. In these communities, the application of modern engineering tools is required to transform their process practices without losing the traditional and indigenous value of their products. This article presents the case of the productive process developed by indigenous communities in the central region of Colombia, for the transformation of fresh leaves of plants genus ‘musa’, which after post-harvest, are marketed as traditional food biopacks. With the support of the axiomatic design theory, the functional requirements (FR) and the design parameters (DP) were established for the development of a prototype that would improve the problems present in the stage of softening leaves in postharvest. The final result was an eco-efficient and ergonomic equipment for softening leaves, deserving of an invention patent in Colombia, which in addition to transforming the production process, contributed to the quality of the product, the health of the producers and reducing the environmental impact of the process.