Several assumptions were made by the team regarding the manufacturing process of the pod-style coffee maker based on the different components of the machine.
Many of the components that make up the pod-style coffee maker are either polymers making up the frame of the machine or electric components responsible for heating the water and operating the control system. The water reservoir of the Keurig coffee maker is made out of Polystyrene [1].
An assumption that can be made about the manufacturing process of the plastic parts is that they were manufactured using a type of molding, forming, or extrusion process of polymers [2]. After manufacturing of the separate components, they are assembled to create the required pod-style coffee maker design.
Additionally, some assumptions were made regarding the manufacturing of the pods that usually consist of a plastic part, a filter, and a metal lid. Forming processes are assumed to create the shape of the pod, followed by a sealing process to seal the coffee inside.
Sources:
[1] Keurig (2017). [online] Available at: http://support.keurig.com/article?id=kA036000000CJgn [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].
[2] Formlabs. Guide to Manufacturing Processes for Plastics. [online] Available at: https://formlabs.com/blog/guide-to-manufacturing-processes-for-plastics/ [Accessed 16 Feb. 2020].