New Product Development - Build an Enduring Capability

New product development practices have been our specialty since 1984 as we have helped manufacturers in many industries to implement faster and more profitable means of new product development. As our world continues to move faster and commerce becomes more global, the ability to accelerate the development process of a winning new product has become a crucial success factor.

However, it takes more than theory to make enduring product development improvements. This is why we always look at new product development processes in terms of how they will improve your bottom line. In some cases, the focus of improvement should not be on cycle time. For example, some organizations have a greater need for a reliable process than for a faster one, and sometimes the flexibility to adapt to change quickly is crucial. We discover the proper balance through analysis, such as computing the cost of delay.

Some managers rely on new technologies, such as computer-aided design, electronic data transfer and management, and videoconferencing, to upgrade their product development. Although these are needed, they are no longer sufficient. This is why we emphasize sound management techniques first. As you apply the management techniques, you will gain perspective to procure the appropriate technologies. The danger of starting with technological tools is that you may automate a poor process, further entrenching it.

This Website offers some of our experience through articles, books, book reviews, columns, interviews, and Quick Tips. Most of these are available for free download. In particular, over a thousand managers around the globe regularly receive our e-mail Quick Tip series. You might also try our new product "FAQ" page.

Most managers, of course, want to do more than read about better processes.  For them, we provide consulting and training services customized to management's needs, based on our experience with many industries around the world.

Our consulting can occur either as assessment of the current situation or as implementation of improved practices. Assessments can range from a day or two to as much as thirty days, the longer ones being able to build an inescapable case for change, which greatly increases the odds of successful implementation. We either can help you implement methods that have come out of such assessments, or we can implement improved practices that you have discovered on your own.

By observing what has worked and failed in other settings, we can guide management and process improvement teams to better performance far faster than they can usually move by themselves. Although there is no fundamental reason why such improvement cannot be completed internally, the fact is that management is usually too involved in daily operations to be unbiased or to be fully dedicated to improving the process.

Ironically, however, the best ideas for improvement invariably come from within the organization, which also avoids the not-invented-here syndrome. Consequently, the consultant/trainer's role is to act as a catalyst and guide. Learn more about this powerful approach to enhancing your performance.

Because we are a small firm with low overhead, we can provide these services at reasonable cost and still provide you with the sure-footedness that you expect from a seasoned consultant. Please learn more about our product development consulting and training qualifications, including Preston Smith's standing as a Certified Management Consultant and his Ph.D. in engineering.