Optimization of assembly instructions for a low-cost housing solution

Bamboo huts have been proposed as a low-cost housing solution in places like India, the Far East and South America. Successful building is strongly linked to the end-user’s ability to interpret and execute their assembly instructions correctly. This article reports a case study in which the planning of the structure of the instructions was carried out to decrease complexity and increase effectiveness so that the assembly could be interpreted and executed correctly by participants. A diagnostic test to assess their suitability was conducted. The results provided insight into the way in which end-users dealt with ambiguity and intrinsic cognitive load, and their preferences for sub-assemblies, action, colored diagrams and self-auditing steps.