Better Product Design: Assessing and Improving Product Design Capability

James Moultrie

ISBN 10: 1902546148 / ISBN 13: 9781902546148

Editore: University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing, 2004

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Better Product Design: Assessing and Improving Product Design Capability
• Editore: University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing
• Data di pubblicazione: 2004
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1902546148
• ISBN 13: 9781902546148
• Rilegatura: Brossura
• Condizione: Like New
• Peso: 299,4 grammi

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Products are the life blood of most companies; they are the reason for a company s existence and the primary focus of all major management decisions. The ability to develop excellent new products is critical for ongoing business survival. However, in many organisations, essential elements of good design are often overlooked. Insufficient attention is paid to understanding the needs of users (and customers). There is little testing and evaluation of ideas before the preferred design solutions are identified. Aesthetic and ergonomic considerations are ignored or perhaps worse, are undertaken by staff who have little training or understanding in these areas. In addition, potentially excellent design solutions are often ruined by poor attention to manufacturing and assembly issues. Good design also demands that excellent products are released to market on time, to cost and within the expected development budget, as a result of a well managed design process. This workbook tackles the issue of good product design from two perspectives. Firstly, there is a product audit to enable the design team to assess the relative performance of current product offerings against a number of key dimensions. Secondly, there is a process audit to assess the effectiveness, or maturity of the design process. Product audit: The product audit enables the utility, usability, desirability, producibility, profitability, and differentiation of current products to be assessed. This analysis provides the design team with insight into product strengths and weaknesses to target potential improvement initiatives. The product audit is an ideal precursor to an evaluation of the design process and supports both project planning and process improvement. Design process audit: The design process audit describes the performance of 24 key design activities at four levels of performance or maurity, where high maturity means that an activity is performed effectively and repeatably. The process audit enables a cross functional team to discuss and agree current performance and identify potential areas for improvement. The process audit can also be used to help plan and prioritise activities for forthcoming projects.

Informazioni sull?autore

James Moultrie is a University Lecturer in Innovation and Design Management at Cambridge University's Institute for Manufacturing. His research interests seek to improve the utilisation of design skills and increase design/innovation capability at project, firm and national levels. Specific interests include design management, design strategy and the role of the physical environment on enhancing innovation. His PhD focused on assessing and improving design capabilities in small firms. James is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (IMechE) and has over ten years of industrial experience as a project manager, senior engineer and marketing product manager in the precision instruments sector. He has a 'Scientific and Technical Academy Award' and an Emmy for work on a range of lenses for professional 35mm cinematography.