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Stage Systems
The CARE™ Process
Description and
Testing
Go/Kill
Description and Testing
Two phases -- one at the very beginning and one nearer the
end -- are essential components of the development process.
The "product description" serves as a working blueprint
and should be included early on in the development stage.
This includes:
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Detailed product specifications |
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Summary of features and benefits |
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Primary areas of application |
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Performance and cost requirements |
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Analysis of competing products |
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Rationale for development |
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Outline of working plan |
"A strong definition of the proposed product inspires
innovation while at the same time encouraging the project
team to stay focused on what the product must ultimately provide
to customers," Webb says.
Similarly, the testing phase completes the process of meeting
customer needs and expectations.
"In this phase, the product is tested for design flaws
and checked to ensure that everything's working as it should,"
Webb adds. "This crucial point in the process demands
that many different functions -- including engineering, parts,
tools and equipment, assembly sequences, operators, technicians
and production supervisors -- all work together efficiently."
Testing also serves as a useful information-gathering component.
"Actually, it's a good idea to be collecting data at
every stage of the development process, focusing in the early
phases on customer interaction and creativity," Goozé
says. "Later, when the product is near launch, a pilot
production test is conducted for quality, cost and user-friendliness."
With a pilot (or prototype) product, the project team can
test and verify its capacity to perform as originally conceived.
An "engineering prototype" (essentially a simplified
version of the final product) is most useful as a means of
"getting the bugs out," while an advanced prototype
enables the team to conduct formal internal and field testing.
In some cases, say the TEC experts, it may be useful to conduct
detailed computer modeling and evaluation (saving time and
money over an actual physical prototype).
Last but not least, the product is introduced to the market
under conditions such as limited scope and control of the
marketing mix (price, promotion and distribution), with results
carefully analyzed afterward. (See "New Product Launch"
in Additional Resources at right.)
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