A Modular Solution for Land Compasses : A new design that minimizes the number of components and contributes to a sustainable compass assortment

Abstract: This report presents a master’s thesis in Industrial Design Engineering at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The project was conducted on behalf of Silva Sweden AB during the spring of 2023, with the goal of modularizing Silva’s current assortment of land compasses. The objectives included reducing the number of components and improving repairability while contributing to Silva’s sustainability framework. Additional objectives were to redesign vital components in order to enable a modular system that is implementable in a circular business model, benefiting both customers and Silva. The methodology of this project included researching, collecting data, mapping, testing and evaluating, ideating, developing, finalizing and communicating. Moreover, the focuses of this project have been the development of baseplates, the compass housing assembly and the mirror attachment. The final design and new compass assortment resulted in a reduction of 40 % of the total components. The most influencing factors for the reduction, besides standardization, were an improved housing assembly and a solution that joins the regular baseplate with a detachable mirror through a snap fit. In relation to the purpose of this project, all objectives are concluded as fulfilled as well as the deliverables which are successfully achieved as well. In conclusion, the result of this project provides a new and modular compass design that minimizes the number of components while contributing to the development of a sustainable compass assortment.