The Product Development Process Introduction

1. The Product Development Process Introduction

2. It is a procedure by which an idea may be turned into a real product. The product can then be manufactured and sold to a customer. What is the Product Development Process?

3. Why have a Product Development Process? • There are many ways to take an idea and make it into a product. Successful companies use a specific development procedure to take an idea and make it into a real, saleable product. The procedure may vary from company to company, but following a basic procedure has proven to make those companies more successful and profitable. • Using a process is also very helpful in determining whether or not to continue developing an idea into a product. Sometimes what keeps a company successful is rejecting an idea and halting the process before spending too much money toward development. The company can begin the process again with a potentially better idea for a product.

4. Who is involved in the process? • Most companies have different groups or departments employing people in various jobs. People from several of these departments are often participants in the Product Development Process. Participating departments often include: • Marketing • Finance • Engineering • Quality Manufacturing

5. What will you be learning? • You will be given an overview of a general procedure for successful product development, which is called the Product Development Process. You will be given a few examples of who the participants in the process might be. You will also be given several examples of the questions that they may need to answer for the work that they do. This will teach you, at a very basic level, what needs to be done to make a product and what the people are doing to make it happen.

6. Who is chosen to work in the process? • Participants from one, more than one, or all departments may be involved in the product development process. • The company’s owner or general manager will usually decide whose research, work, and input is required to meet the objectives of the program.

7. How long is the process? • The amount of time the process takes varies greatly depending on the company and on the complexity of the product. • For example, developing a picture frame may take just a few days or weeks. On the other hand, developing an automobile may take a year or longer. • It is important in the development of all products, but especially complex ones, to break the process down into smaller, more manageable parts or steps.

8. What are the steps of the process? • The process is typically divided into six steps called phases. • Each phase is completed when its objective is met. • The person or group may move to the next phase only after each one is completed.

9. What are the Phases of the Product Development Process? Phase 1: Proposal Phase 2: Investigation Phase 3: Lab Prototype Phase 4: Production Prototype Phase 5: Pilot Run Phase 6: Manufacturing Release

10. Phase 1: Proposal • Objective: • To create and propose a new product idea. • Example Participant: • Marketing • Example Questions: • Who might want to buy this product? • How many of them can we sell? • How much would someone be willing to pay for the product?

11. Phase 2: Investigation • Objective: • To research and verify that it is technically and financially possible to manufacture this product. • Example Participant: • Finance • Example Questions: • How much will it cost to make this product? • How much will it cost to sell this product? • Based on the marketing research, what will the annual profit be?

12. Phase 3: Lab Prototype • Objective: • To develop and document a product which meets customer, engineering, manufacturing and business needs. • Example Participant: • Product Development Engineering • Example Questions: • How do I design this product to be usable to the customer? • How do I design this product to be safe? • How do I design this product to be easy and less costly to build?

13. Phase 4: Production Prototype • Objective: • To test and verify that the product manufacturing procedures, parts, and suppliers can meet the production plan for the product. • Example Participant: • Manufacturing Engineering • Example Questions: • How would someone put the product together? • Do the employees have the skills and equipment needed to make the product? • What are the processes and procedures I will use to make this product?

14. Phase 5: Pilot Run • Objective: • To do testing to try to discover any problems in making the product, distributing it, and offering it for sale to customers in production volumes. • Example Participant: • Quality • Example Questions: • When I examine and measure one of the parts, does it match the engineering drawings? • When I try using the finished product in the way a customer would, does it work as expected? • After many uses, does it continue to work as expected?

15. Phase 6: Manufacturing Release • Objective: • To release to the manufacturing department all the documents that are required to build the product. • Example Participant: • Manufacturing • Example Questions: • Do I have all the drawings needed to make the parts of the product? • Do I have all the parts needed to begin building the product? • Do I have final approval from the company to proceed in making the product?

16. A Systematic Approach to Product Development • Creative ideas are important, but many other factors should be considered and other work must be done in order to make an idea into a reality. Using an organized, systematic approach greatly increases the probability of a project’s success. The cooperation of other people doing their parts to answer questions and solve problems is key, as well. This cooperative, systematic approach helps to turn ideas into successful products. This workwas funded through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office grant #07-171-002 (SB1133) and the Sierra College CTE Community Collaborative (Sierra STEM) project.