Product development is not just an industry within itself but many industries have need of it. Besides companies that create their own products, there are a slew of companies that specialize in it. Whether they’re creating for themselves or for others, product development is growing. Not all of them are succeeding, however. Product development is a process that can suffer huge amounts of loss from all sides. Success is about minimizing loss, whether it’s personal, material or resource related. We take a look at just some of the ways some of the most successful product developers get from proof-of-concept to shipping.
Planning
A huge part in successful product development is knowing exactly what you’re getting into. Revisions and changed minds aren’t uncommon during development, but these can be accounted for. There are also external factors, both planned and unplanned, that have to be accounted for and reacted to. For example, there are a considerable number of reasons why the entire plant will have to uproot and undergo plant relocation. This could be done in order to settle in a more suitable or more favorable location. Naturally, this represents a cost and production stoppage that is also to be considered.
Recognizing the costs, in both terms of man-hours and money, is a vital step to these plans. Cost identification and management doesn’t just set goals and follow operating costs. It even helps set selling prices and help managers figure out how much time needs to be spent training their staff based on size.
Personal safety
One of the biggest causes of loss in any industry is on a personal level. Particularly in product development and manufacturing, you’re dealing with very skilled workers who might not be so easily replaced. So, from designers to those working on the floor, take personal safety seriously. Follow the set standards regarding safety equipment and safety equipment testing. Reduce slips, trips and spills by keeping lanes clear and marking divides clearly. Losing your employees to injury and time off helps no-one.
Equipment safety
It’s not as vital as a person’s safety, but the equipment involved in product development is just as important. From electricity to flooding, there are a range of hazards that can slow or stop production entirely. Make sure your machinery is protected from surges. Decide if you have use of products like automatic flood barriers from companies like denios-us. Damage to your equipment can easily be a fatal blow, in terms of money to replace and fix as well as time spent not working on the development.
Customer service
A lot of product development and manufacturing companies have their premises and staff working perfectly. But it might be losing customers that keeps them up at night. As with any business, customer service is key to success. Time needs to be made to satisfy client questions and go in detail with them. There are all kinds of tech solutions that can make this easier. From file-sharing to apps that allow easier communication on the move, a focus on customer service will make a large difference.
Efficiency
On any manufacturing or product development floor, efficiency is the Holy Grail. The more you strive for it, the better the results. This means cutting waste by better positioning machines and relocating ones that aren’t used. Planning and carrying out preventative maintenance and stocking equipment spare parts such as hydraulic hoses. If you need a hydraulic press for your manufacturing facility, you may order one from a reputable hydraulic press manufacturer. The more prepared you are, the more efficiently you can keep running, even when disaster strikes.
