Do users have the ability to self-repair non-complex electrical appliances? Design and development of a self-guided workshop with repair documentation in different formats

Abstract

In the context of the circular economy, repair is one of the main strategies to extend the lifespan of products. However, when it comes to non-complex and inexpensive small household electric and electronic equipment (EEE), consumers tend to not repair or self-repair these items but purchase new ones instead. The aim of this study is to analyse the self-repair experience of consumers in a three-stage self-guided workshop designed and carried out using an electric water kettle as a case study. Sixty people with different profiles participated in the self-guided workshop. An initial interview was conducted to ascertain previous repair experience, and there was also a final interview in which future willingness to repair was studied, as well as the motivations and barriers. The main stage of the self-guided workshop consisted of repairing a kettle in which two faults had been induced. Disassembly and repair guidelines were provided in three different formats (a video, step-by-step instructions and a guide). Regarding their preferences for the resource used to carry out the repair, 61.4 % preferred the video, 24.6 % the step-by-step instructions and 14.0 % the guide. The participants who successfully repaired the kettle amounted to 63.2 %, and 24.6 % of the total number of participants did not use the repair instructions. An analysis of the variable “repair success” against participants’ socioeconomic characteristics showed that having previous experience of self-repair or not was the only statistically significant variable; therefore, self-reported repair experience does influence the disassembly process. Thus, the repair success rate is 40.4 % for those with previous self-repair experience against a rate of 22.8 % for those without experience. In conclusion, con- sumers will attempt self-repair if the information to do so is provided and it is more affordable to repair the product than to purchase a new one.