STAGES OF NEW PRODUCT DESIGN

 STEPS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCT DESIGN:

IDEA GENERATION:

The design process begins with understanding the customer needs. Ideas for a new product can come from several sources. Internal sources include employees, research and development, market research. External sources include customer, political, environmental, and technological.

SCREENING IDEAS:

The purpose of screening ideas is to exclude those ideas that do not seem to have high potential.

FEASIBILITY STUDY:

Feasibility study consists of market analysis, economic analysis and technical and strategic analysis

The market analysis through customer analysis and market survey assesses whether there is adequate demand for the proposed product to invest in developing further.

If the adequate demand subsists, then there is an economic analysis that aims at establishing the production and development costs and relates them with estimated sales volume.

 The profit potential of the product can be deliberated using quantitative techniques such as cost-benefit analysis, decision theory, net present value (NPV) or internal rate of return (IRR).

The risk analysis is also carried out. Lastly, technical and strategic analysis is concerned with the technical capability of the product with respect to technology, the process of manufacture, availability of materials etc.

Performance specifications are given for product concepts that permit the feasibility study and are accepted for development.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN:

The process of preliminary design involves constructing a prototype, testing the prototype, revising the design, retesting and so on till a possible design is determined. The design includes both form and function.

Form design states the physical form of a product, its shape, size, colour, styling etc. Aesthetics aspects such as image, market appeal, special identification, finish etc. will also form a part of the form design.

Production design is concerned with how the product will be completed.

Design simplification tries to decrease the number of parts, subassemblies and options into a product.

Standardization refers to the use of regularly available and substitutable parts and subassemblies.

Modular design consists of linking standardized building blocks or modules in a variety of ways to create a unique finished product.

PILOT RUN AND TESTING:

Prototypes are built and verified after several duplications; pilot run of the manufacturing process is conducted. Adjustments are made as desired before concluding the design.

FINAL DESIGN AND PROCESS PLAN:

The final design consists of careful drawings and specifications for the new product. The associated process plans are practicable instructions for manufacture including required equipment’s and tooling, component sources job descriptions, work instructions and Programmes for computer-assisted machines.

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH:

Introduction the new product or service includes co-coordinating the supply chain and developing the marketing plans. Marketing and production will work in a co-coordinated way during this stage.