PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Through Concurrent Engineering

The initial QFD analysis that we did in our previous article helped to develop a draft product definition. This product definition needs further detailing and has to go through several iterations before we get our concepts cleared and develop a marketable product plan

In our previous articles on developing a charge controller for wind power, we discussed the features it must have to make the product attractive. We also used the quality function deployment analysis to discover the features, components, manufacturing process, and quality assurance approach of that charge controller.

The draft plan we made so far needs expansion with further details. For instance, we need circuit diagrams, PCB design, product packaging, user manuals, manufacturing plan, sources for materials, marketing plans, budget, pricing, etc. All these skills are not available to a single person, so we need people with electronics engineering, supply chain planners, package designers, embedded. software designers, accountants, web developers, and a marketing team.

When we start defining the product, we have too many options and very few details about what we plan to make, its features, design, manufacturing plan, supply chain structure, distribution plan, pricing, market, etc. The initial QFD analysis that we had done in our previous article helped to develop a draft product definition. This product definition needs further detailing and has to go through several iterations before we get our concepts cleared and develop a marketable product plan.

There can be various paths of product development. In technical language, we call this path a development model. Each of the product development models has certain advantages and certain drawbacks. The first decision we take in product development is to decide on this development model. Let us look into some of the popular development models and understand where to use which one.

Waterfall model