New Product Development: Departments, Communication, Standards, Testing, And Quality Control Procedures

Departments involved in New Product Introduction

New product development refers to the whole process of introducing a new product into the market. The key aspect of this process is the product design in addition to some other business considerations.

The process of introducing a new product into the market is as follows;

• Firstly, the innovators develop the new product strategy by defining the goals and objectives of releasing the product the market.
• Secondly, there is collection of ideas through external and internal sources.
• The ideas then undergo screening and are condensed into a few ideas.
• Furthermore, the idea is structured to make a detailed concept.
• The cost and profits of the new product are go be estimated in order to see if they go hand in hand with the companies objectives.
• If the idea has passed all these stages it’s now ready to be developed into a product.
• The product is then tested through a series of trial runs in the market.
• Lastly, the product is now introduced to the general public.

The Company is offering ventilation products to the market. Ventilation can be defined as replacing fresh air with polluted air using ducted units that distributes air around the whole building. The process involves proper building planning and adequate air ventilation and conditioning devices that will create a possibility of reaching maximum comfort levels, in comparison to the investment to buy the ventilation unit. Ventilation highly affects room and living comfort as well as human health and performance inside a building. People often take the classical solution of opening windows as the best way of exchanging stale with fresh air. The Engineering Company X has addressed this issue by creating the best ventilation unit for domestic and commercial buildings.

Operations department

This is a field of management involved in the design and control process of production plus the redesigning of goods and services. This department manages the whole production system by converting inputs into outputs (Carbone, 2011).

• Firstly, the operations department manages the project by overseeing, controlling and directing how the company operates day by day by setting objectives to be achieved at the end of a set period of time.
• Secondly, the department plans information systems to identify the current trends in order to develop new production methods. The main aim here is to make profits by increasing productivity, customer relations and minimize operational problems.
• Thirdly, they helps in designing and developing products and services that ensures qualities of products are high, and brand equity that will fit the current market demand and offer solutions that other products in the market can’t match.
• Fourthly, they manages the inventory by identifying key areas in the supply chain and logistics their characteristics to provide a surplus in production. This is done by ensuring that affordable raw materials and labour is readily available on time and the products reach the customers when needed.
• Furthermore, they optimizes quality controls by ensuring there is an effective quality management system that improves the quality of products hence surpassing business standards in the markets(Derek, 2014).
• The department conducts procurement and purchasing by making use of analysis methods that are economical and considerations like fluctuations in prices, delivery, and marginal benefits.
• Also, conducting enterprise resource planning by integrating management of important business processes by the use of technology to create a data base to manage resources and commitments of the business.
• In addition, the department plans for capacity. Capacity is the process of establishing the output per rate that is achievable by a facility. This is done by making strategic or tactical decisions. Strategic decisions are usually long time and need large capital expenditure and tactical decisions are usually short time and require less capital.  
• Furthermore, eliminating waste by working in an organized environment. In order to do this effectively the 5 S approach is used (Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain) to identify, eliminate and prevent waste.
• Lastly, executing a company’s strategic plan in order to capture a large portion of the market, always be ahead of the competition, and increase the satisfaction of customers. A strategic plan has strategic goals, objectives for improvements, action plans, and performance measures.

The engineering department is divided into four sections namely, system extensions, support engineering, design engineering, and construction contract administration.

• Firstly, the department drives production development efforts for new customer products. The product development engineers are responsible for creating and testing new product designs plus formulating manufacturing specifications. They identify the goals of the company, integrate market research, and analyse designs(Eric, 2011).
• Secondly, Setting up ERP part number structures, routings, and bill of materials (BOM) in order to define the product structure of a manufactured end product. An engineering BOM can also be used to produce a production BOM by use of Engineering Data Management module.
• Thirdly, they work with operations department to design and structure the manufacturing work flows for new products.
• Furthermore, they assist in resolving design and supplier issues. The design engineer work together in creating drawings that will be used in prototyping and production. This step also involves the correction of flaws found, creation of manufacture fixtures, and packaging.
• Also, they Create and update necessary documentation (test procedures, assembly procedures, specifications, checklists)(David, 2012). Quality documentation provide for effective and efficient production processes hence avoiding delays, rework, and high costs of production.
• In addition, engineers determine work scope, tasks, schedules and budgets. The scope of work is a document that shows a description of what the business will produce and sell to the customers.
• Lastly, engineers drive regulatory/environmental certifications. The engineers certify that the product has passed performance and quality assurance tests by meeting the criteria in the certification schemes.

This department comprises of accountants, auditors, and even book keepers.

• First role of the finance department involves performance management. This is by defining the factory’s main performance indicators, creating strategic forecasts and plans, managing performance reports, and increasing finance operational efficiency and execution.
• Secondly, they give analytics by giving an insight of the business financial situation leading to improved revenues, cash flow, and business value. Analytics help in smart decision making that will reduce wastage hence shape up the decision making strategies of the business.
• Lastly, the department ensures financial control in the business by correcting accounting entries, securing internal controls, collecting and recording data, data analysis, and financial reporting. All these are aimed at establishing a wider vision of the business currently and future in financial terms.

Basically, this is the face of the business and play the most crucial role between the company and the customers.

• Firstly, the department establishes a marketing strategy that is necessary to get close to customers and find out if the products will meet their needs. This is enabled by capturing information from the sales team and customer support.
• Then, the sales team tracks current trends and monitors competition in order to know the business situation in the market and learn from the competitors do right and wrong.
• In addition, they create and disseminate images, ideas and messages that usually transmit the values of the brands and also ensure that all departments deliver the same message in a unified manner.
• Furthermore, they embark on customer retention techniques, affiliate programs, and constant promotions in order for the customers to be in surprise due to the high demand of creativity by the market.
• Also, marketing activities are usually an investment of effort, money and time. These factors are used by the department to calculate the return of investment (ROI) of the business.
• Lastly, the department defines a cost effective marketing strategies plan that sets out the objectives of the business in the months to follow and necessary actions to be taken.

• Open meetings.

This is one of the best communication approaches where members from different departments can communicate freely and share ideas and views about the product.

This is electronic mail and is very key in an official setting as it enables communication to be possible without pulling members from different departments from their respective work stations.

• Face to face.

This is the best means of communication as the message is first hand and will sink in in order to share ideas

• Use of visuals.

This involves placing visuals at strategic positions around the work stations of each department. The employees should see as well as hear the message for better comprehension.

• Use presentations.

It is a fact that not all people grasp spoken or written words unless there are pictures and sounds involved. The usage of ideas like Microsoft PowerPoint gives the employees an opportunity to clarify the things they aren’t sure about.

The departments should be guided by the similar vision by understanding how the larger context and their work fit like a jig saw puzzle and are more empowered in initiative taking (Jason, 2010). For example, in order for there to be harmonious communication in the business at the onset of a project it is important to have a cross-departmental kick-off meeting of the departmental leaders to set the common goal. Also employees should have shared objectives in order to see the big picture of their respective departments.

The departments need to have mutual understanding to ensure smooth and effective collaboration. Individual departments need to see each other’s challenges from a different perspective. There should be a sense of curiosity of the employees to learn each other’s work. Co-workers should also relate in a productive and positive manner by keeping their emotions in check and building a culture of mindfulness.

• Develop a common language.

Operations department

The individual department specific language usually causes a challenge to communication and can alienate other employees from other departments. Therefore, in order to make communication effective day by day, a common language needs to be introduced in order to avoid miscommunications and misunderstandings.

• Consistent communication.

The use of up-to date information goes hand in hand with a workplace environment. This causes the need for the correct software to facilitate sharing of information and helping the employees stay on top of things (Andrew, 2011). The software applications keep all communications concerning the project in one place, hence allow automation of notifications enabling all employees get the necessary communication at the right time and keep the same ensuring its availability to everyone at any time.

• Being involved in other departments processes.

Put yourself in a situation where a creative team spends a month in designing a prototype only for such an idea to be thrown out the window by other departments as maybe it lacks strategic direction. The scenario can be frustrating to individual departments and can be avoided if they are involved in other department’s processes and the strategic vision is the same. This makes such communication constructive and will help avoid blame game in future.

• Leaders set the tone.

The departmental leaders can build relationships by encouraging a collaborative culture among departments. There should be periodic meetings among team leaders to check on work challenges and progress and helping each other in brainstorming ideas and problem solving. The end result here is success by fostering a sense of collective responsibility and trust.

• Celebrate wins.

The market result called winning is a result of interdepartmental collaboration. This means that each department appreciates each other’s role in the success of the project. A win is a win, be it small or big. Small wins help maintain the momentum and are usually as important as big wins.

• Encourage feedback.

The departments need to create a conducive environment where employees are comfortable and can freely share their experiences and ideas. The idea of encouraging feedback can help stream line and improve processes that employees react to changes in plans on time.

• Fostering trust.

The long term and successful collaboration in a company is built upon trust and transparency. Trust makes departments know that thy can depend on each other knowing that each member is putting the same effort to meet set goals.

Standards are key documents that enable one buy and sell goods and services by ensuring and specifying if they are bad or good. They are also necessary to be able for creation of the required laws usually at a higher level (Bruegmann, 2012).

The standard procedures for the ventilation system include;

• Measurement of the duct surface area.

The total surface area of the ductwork should be measured to be able to give an accurate calculation of the air leakage in the ventilation system.

• Leakage classification and testing of ducts and ductwork.

If there is need to achieve better energy efficiency levels then airtightness is very important in such a ventilation system. The ductwork is exposed temporarily to higher pressures and then given classification rather than estimates of the leakage.

• Aerodynamic testing of dampers and valves.

Aerodynamic testing and rating of valves and dampers include testing for damper and valve leakage, testing of casing leakage, and testing of flow rate requirements for dampers and ducts mounted in a duct system.

• Cleanliness of the ductwork.

The constant supply of fresh air in buildings is important in providing comfortable, and safe working and living environments. All duct systems become dirty over a certain period of time hence will need to be cleaned by professionals.

• Offering recommendations.

The designers can offer recommendations to the consumer on ductwork designs based on test conducted on the basis of air pressure within the duct system and well balanced is the system.

• Insulate the ductwork.

The ductwork should be insulated and this will in turn insulate air passing through the ducts hence maintaining its temperatures.

• Install UV light.

There is need to install ultraviolet (UV) light in the ductwork. The UV light will destroy fungal spores, bacteria and sterilize the air hence improving indoor air quality.

• The designing of a ventilation system needs a detailed attention and knowhow in line with the latest construction standards and building regulations by making the ventilation systems run without being noticed in a building.
• When choosing a building ventilation unit consider one that meets building regulations when installed. Installing an extraction fan in the ventilation unit mean that there is no wastage of energy if the fans can adapt to changes in the environment.
• The setting of high ventilation levels can lead to wastage of energy.  There is need to add manual switches and integrated carbon dioxide and humidity sensors that will respond to any changes like occupancy levels hence creating an energy efficient ventilation.
• Thermal efficiency refers to the amount of heat that the ventilation unit can extract from the incoming air supply. This characteristics of the ventilation unit ensures that there is minimal wastage and less energy is needed to heat the building.

Conclusion

For a healthy living there is need for indoor air quality. The biggest indoor pollutants are biological pollutants (dust, human dandruff, mould, bacteria), volatile organic compounds (paint gases, pesticides), and pollution from combustion (tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide). Wow, that’s a pretty polluted environment. But look no further, ventilation systems are here to save the day.  

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