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You are here: Home / Concept / Frustrations in Product development…

Frustrations in Product development…

Seems like you had that flash of brilliance in the shower years ago. That revolutionary product that everyone would love so much they would buy two. You spent time and money…maybe even have a mock-up or prototype, but it feels like you are stuck.

If things are not going well, it’s time to step back and ask yourself some important questions (hopefully not for the very first time).  Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet…….but let’s go back to the basics and revisit the foundation of what you’re doing, adjusting course as needed.

-What problem is your product intended to solve?

-Are you consistent in the guidance of those hired to help?

-Do you have a sufficient understanding of the development process?

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Are you clear about the problem your product is trying to solve for your customer? Do you know who your customers will be and how you will find them?

If these questions stump you. Stop immediately and go back to the drawing board. The first thing you should always have is a written product definition that answers these basic questions. They serve as your road map. Without a road map……it is no wonder you are feeling a little lost.

 

Are you consistent in the guidance you give to those hired to help?

Now you have your road map as an anchor. Are you bouncing around changing your mind or adding things to the requirements. Change is a normal part of the process, but the more you change things the more tasks are redone and the whole process takes longer and costs more.

If you feel unsettled about where you are going and others are involved (especially when you are paying them hourly) step back and consider the end result you want until it feels pretty solid update your spec and begin again. Changing things on the fly can get very expensive.

 

Do you have a good understanding of the development process?

Have you heard the saying ‘Everything is easy when you are not the one doing it?’ It is common to under estimate and under appreciate the time it takes to to do things that you do not know how to do.

This is why I am a big fan of starting with your simplest ideas first. The bigger the complexity and challenge, the bigger the development budget needs to be. A simple first product will not seem simple, yet is the better learning experience which you can then apply to your future complex products.

The better educated you are the better questions you ask, the more money and time you are likely to save.  Do everything that you possibly can yourself…..including the best possible preparation for those that you hire to help you.

(photo:  cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Images_of_Money)

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Client comments…

252-Color-64Kris has come to our rescue on many occasions, helping us sort out our engineering challenges, clarify our goals and communicate needed product changes to our overseas factories with clear, easy to understand 3D CAD images that transcend the language… Read more
Lynne JohnsonV.P. Product Development & ComplianceRicardo Beverly HillsKent, WA
208-Color-64I greatly appreciate how Kris has the incredible ability to take bits of fragmented thoughts, randomly thrown her direction over the course of a conversation, listen patiently to each one, carefully analyzing how they each interact and effect the des… Read more
Steve PereiraPresidentWing-it Product Corp.Dana Point, CA
235-Color-64Since 2002, Kris Stewart has played an instrumental role in getting various QSC digital products to market with our in-house team. Through dialog and review of QSC’s product concepts, she is able to produce thoughtful mechanical and industrial desi… Read more
Darryl HochProject Manager, Systems Integration GroupQSC Audio Products, LLCCosta Mesa, CA
284-Color-64Kris was hired to design an enclosure for one of our products that previous engineers wasted thousands of dollars and months of time failing to do. Her work was outstanding, she provided solutions that no-one had thought of and did so with speed, pre… Read more
Larry YoungPresident/CEOActive ES Lighting ControlsLaguna Hills, CA
050-Color-64I would highly recommend Kris to anyone who needs a knowledgeable mechanical design engineering consultant. She is easy to work with, communicates well with her clients and her work is accurate and on-schedule.” -from LinkedIn profile          … Read more
Marc BoothEVP, EngineeringAcacia Tech. GroupNewport Beach, CA
153-Color-64I first met Kris in 2005 as we worked together to create the Los Angeles Chapter of the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA-LA). I found her to be thoughtful, insightful, and creative in her work with PDMA-LA. In 2006 I was able t… Read more
Eric P. Rose, NPDP, MBAPresidentPinnacle Product Innovation, Inc.Tarzana, CA
168-Color-64I worked with Kris on several projects for a key customer while at Accurate Metal Fabricators. Kris’s experience and detail in her work allowed my team to do their job quickly and efficiently leading to the best possible quality and on time delivery.”… Read more
Chip ThiemanProject ManagerAccurate Metal FabAnaheim, CA
288-Color-64Kris is a very competent professional engineer with excellent communication skills. Kris always gave me reason to feel confident the the job will get done right and on time. Kris integrated in to our team easily and became one of us, with a clear ded… Read more
Martin BrookeQuality ManagerHartwell-Dzus (now part of Southco)Placentia, CA
324-Color-64I have hired Kris for many projects requiring mechanical engineering work over the past five years. Kris is a pleasure to work with and integrates extremely well with any project team. We have especially valued the collaborative teamwork approach she… Read more
Arnie MarxDirector, Software Eng.QSC Audio Products, LLCCosta Mesa, CA
166-Color-64 Mechanical Partner’s injected plastic case design was key to the successful delivery of our consumer avionics product. Their tight integration of our electronics exceeded our requirements while meeting an aggressive schedule.”
… Read more
Sam CarswellChief Technical OfficerThe IMS Co. (now Zodiac II)Brea, CA
225-Color-64Kris was selected as an expert witness based on her unique combination of engineering skills, product development experience, and background in consumer products similar to those in our case. She was prompt, thorough, creative in her approach, and co… Read more
Timothy LundellPartnerLundell & SpadaforeSan Jose, CA
273-Color-64I was fortunate enough to work with Kris on a development project involving concept, prototype, and production of a plastic housing. She was able to work closely with the electrical design team to ensure a tightly integrated design with both the elec… Read more
Mike NeurauterProgram ManagerThe IMS Co. (now Zodiac II)Brea, CA
313-Color-64Kris Stewart’s work on QSC’s latest digital platform program was exceptional. She was able to digest our electrical design files and conceptual renderings and produce mechanical chassis components that support our industrial design concepts an… Read more
Darryl HochProject Manager, Systems Integration GroupQSC Audio Products, LLCCosta Mesa, CA
206-Color-64We have great confidence in our overseas manufacturer, but were having difficulty communicating exactly what we wanted in our new products. Working with Kris, allowed us to flesh out 3D assemblies (with just the level of detail required) in SolidWo… Read more
Paul EscaleraPresidentColumbia ProductsIrvine, CA
240-Color-64I first met Kris when she was working with one of our customers doing a new product design. I was impressed by her knowledge of plastics, plastic molding, and tooling. She understood our concerns and adapted her design to accommodate them. The projec… Read more
Jim HartleySales EngineerNMC Aerospace, Esterline TechnologiesPomona, CA
055-Color-64Our old design contractor was moving very slowly and not delivering results. We called Kris to make a change. She started with an unfinished assembly that already had too many parts (most custom) and she: Reduced the overall part count by abo… Read more
James ArchdekinVP, Research and InnovationActive ES Lighting ControlLaguna Hills, CA
320-Color-64Kris is an outstanding design engineer. I have had the pleasure of working with Kris on several projects with a common client. We worked with plastic parts and the design always kept in mind the manufacturing process and detail required. I had a grea… Read more
Bob DePewOwnerGlobal Technology Assoc.Orange County, CA

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