New Product Development Process

Five steps in the New Product Development Process are:

1. Idea Generation

• Brainstorming – thinking about it
• Creating a new product based on some observed need
• Thinking of a new product based on some accident or chance circumstance

2. Screening

• Getting opinions from
  • Employees
  • Potential customers
  • Media
  • Government
• What are the weaknesses of existing products that are similar
• Is there any competition for a new product
• What are the industry sales and market trends the product idea is based on

3. Idea Evaluation / Concept Development

• Estimate costs, revenue, profit,
• Do market research
• Target market segmentation
  • Describe the main group of people who will be the first customers

4. Development of Product / Business Analysis

• Physically design and manufacture the product
• Estimate likely selling price based upon competition and customer feedback
• Estimate sales volume based upon size of market
• Produce a physical prototype or mock-up
• Test the product (and its packaging) in typical usage situations

5. Commercialization

• “Make enough to sell”
  • Manufacture a large amount to send out to the stores that will stock the items so enough inventory on hand for the public to buy
• Launch “promotion campaign”

Product Development Process:

Opportunity Identification:

• Internal sources
  Company employees at all levels
• External sources
  Customers
  Competitors
  Distributors
  Suppliers
  Outsourcing

Idea Generation (Ideation):

• Cross Functional Team
• Generate Ideas

• Brainstorming
• Suspend judgment
• Encourage creativity

Identify Opportunity Areas

• Problem solving to bring new ideas to the table
• Sketching or prototype
• Idea prioritization

Generate New Product Concepts and evaluate against a set of company criteria for new products.

Concept Development:

• Done by Marketing and/or Advertising Agency

• Conducting “Focus Groups”
• Objectives

Judge whether the concept fits the opportunity area, and constraints

Refine and / or describe the product concept

• What it is :
• What benefit(s) will it deliver to the user
• Key information – size, varieties, package, price

Concept Screening / Testing:

• Produce a Concept Board
• Conduct a survey

• Representative sample of end users via Internet, Panel
• Show concept and ask buying intent, uniqueness, value

Analyze the results

• Compare scores to internal criteria, benchmarks, norms
• Forecast “Trial”

If end user shows interest in trying the product during the trial
forecast, then the concept qualifies for development – It clears the
first stage gate.

QTC

QTC is a composite made from micron-sized metallic filler particles (Silicone Rubber) mixed into an elastomeric matrix. Quantum tunnelling composite is a flexible polymer that exhibits extraordinary electrical properties. In its normal state it is a perfect insulator, but when compressed it becomes a more or less perfect conductor and able to pass very high currents.

History:

First produced in 1996, QTC is a composite material made from conductive filler particles combined with an elastomeric binder, typically silicone rubber. The unique method of combining these raw materials results in a composite which exhibits significantly different electrical properties when compared with any other electrically conductive material.

Types of QTC:

1. Elastomeric (Material: Silicone Rubber) (The particle move close together)

2. Ink / Coating Solvent or Aqueous Polymer

3. Granular Sensors

Working of Quantum tunnelling composite:

QTC usually comes in the form of pills or sheet. QTC pills are just tiny little pieces of the material. The sheets are composed of one layer of QTC, one layer of a conductive material, and a third layer of a plastic insulator. While QTC sheets switch quickly between high and low resistances, QTC pills are pressure sensitive variable resistors.

Application:

– Touch switches (sheet)
– Force/pressure sensors (pills)
– Motor speed control using force (pills)

Benefits:

• QTC is a pressure/force sensing material. It can be easily integrated into existing products to enable force sensing opportunities and solutions.
• Product surfaces can be incorporated, coated or impregnated with QTC to impart the properties of force sensing into or onto the host surface.
• QTC material can be formed or moulded into virtually any size, thickness or shape, permitting redesign of product interfaces and providing improved ergonomics, aesthetics and user comfort.
• QTC is an enabling technology which is simple and reliable to use.
• QTC material is durable – it has no moving parts to wear out.
• QTC material is mechanically strong.
• QTC material can be made to withstand extreme temperatures limits.
• QTC material is versatile, both electrically and physically e.g. Its range and sensitivity can be altered. QTC material is also intrinsically safe – the material is a contactless switch, ideal for sparkless operation.
• QTC material can be directly interfaced to standard electronic and electrical devices.
• QTC material and/or technology can be customized for customer requirements, applications and products.