Project Title: Standardization of Push Tubes
Project Team: Justin J. Bonnoni, Adam Grguric, Stacy Kanizai, Joshua Scott
Executive Summary:JLG Industries, Inc. would like to standardize the push tubes throughout their current aerial lift lineup. Currently, there are slight variations in push tube design required for each lift in the lineup. These variations lead to increases in expense for JLG Industries, Inc. The main objective of this design project is to limit the number of push tube designs required for the current lineup. The new designs will minimize the amount of parts used and eliminate assembly time and adjustments. By doing so, savings in material, manufacturing, overhead, and labor costs will be realized.

SAJ^2 Consulting Group began the standardization process by exploring the various means by which the push tubes are attached to the boom of the aerial lift platform. Then a single size of tubing with a cross-sectional area of nine square inches was incorporated throughout the lineup. A single standardized attachment design was chosen from a list of possible alternatives that were generated by SAJ^2 Consulting Group. A decision matrix was utilized to reach this decision. To accommodate the various sizes of power tracks used throughout the aerial lift platform lineup, a universal power track attachment plate was then designed. An economic analysis was conducted on the feasibility of producing the standardized push tubes and attachments. The designs chosen have achieved all of the criteria specified by JLG Industries, Inc.
Date: Fall 2001
Faculty Coach: Dr. John S. Lamancusa Ph.D.,P.E.
Sponsor: JLG Industries, Inc.