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Static analysis tools can be used to reduce errors. Just as Software Dev, Test, Bug tracking and Release processes are also good.

A step further is the FDA's MDR program - Medical Device Reporting - https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/def... - where medical device manufacturers are required to report to the FDA when there are problems with their devices. Also, users of medical devices (doctors, hospitals, nurses, patients, etc) can file a report anytime. The FDA then selectively investigates.

But sometimes the FDA is too slow, superbugs in Duodenum Scopes is a good example: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-superbug-fda/exclusiv...

An analog to this problem is scientific researchers not publishing failed studies. Or not publishing 100% of the raw data for successful studies for further analysis (finding bias removing selective sampling errors, etc). https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-scientis... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_science_data

Here's a new idea: every single product (software, hardware etc) has a way for anyone to file bugs or design requests or upload videos of scenarios where the design fails. The result would be rapidly accelerating cycles of product feedback loops and with techs like 3D printing, mass customization of devices.

A concrete example is an endoscope: http://www.genesis.net.au/~ajs/projects/medical_physics/endo... most are built to be held in the left hand as the right hand is reserved for more dextrous work. But what about left handed people? They need a flipped endoscopic design. Also, the button placements are for the size and spacing of men's hands. What about women surgeons? The buttons are placed uncomfortably far away. https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Man-Woman-Factors-Design/dp/0...

A website that collected feedback like this for endoscopes could be used to make sub product lines for lefty's and button placements for smaller hands. And accelerate product cycle times of feedback to new product in the market from 24 months to 5 months.

If you're feeling adventurous, carry a tape measure and check out the size and shape of furniture around you.

If you really start getting in to designing furniture "The Measure of Man and Woman" (http://www.amazon.com/Measure-Man-Woman-Factors-Design/dp/04...) is full of useful measurements and ranges that tables and chairs should satisfy for average, 1 percentile, and 99 percentile humans.

Wood is actually pretty forgiving. You can prototype the size of something in cheap pine, and remember, it's always easier to cut off another inch from those table legs then it is to add one!