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MAS
New Product Development making it work for manufacturers
21st February 2011
Succeeding at new product development is not about standing still......manufacturers need to continually evolve their products in line with customer requirements whilst embracing the inevitable shifts that happen each and every day throughout the world.
This was the message delivered to all manufacturers attending the ‘How to Succeed at New Product Development’ seminar at this year’s Southern Manufacturing Exhibition in Farnborough, hosted by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East.
When manufacturing new products or making changes to existing products or services, Grant Baker, MAS South East Specialist, advised delegates to be aware of the global shifts that happen daily in areas such as technology, materials, the economy, purchasing, product lifecycle and usage and perhaps most importantly customer demand.
He said: “It is crucial that manufacturers gauge the market and understand where it is going in order to triumph at new product development. Understanding the marketplace, consumer needs, the competition, current trends, tomorrow’s technology and today’s innovations is critical to the success of any new product and only then can manufacturers really begin to develop ideas and products that customers actually want.”
Grant also advised on other areas that manufacturers need to focus on in the pursuit of new product development, commenting: “A clear identity and strong brand is key to the visibility of any product or company, a good website can offer invaluable insight into a business and on-going strategic planning is a must – opening up a regular dialogue with existing customers will ensure that plans are constantly updated to reflect the needs of the end user.
“Embracing change can present a number of opportunities – change will always happen but many companies like to stick with what they know. However, creativity can only be achieved if established patterns are broken. Change does not have to be radical or expensive, look at product variations, providing additional benefits or features, utilising new materials or new technology.”
Grant encouraged the audience to focus on three important steps in the development of new products – first step, generate ideas using internal feedback; second step – evaluate ideas, asking if it is actually workable and third step – look at how to promote the product and get it to market.
Grant concluded the seminar by asking the audience to take the following question away with them as food for thought: ‘When will my product/service no longer be relevant and what am I going to do about it?’
MAS South East is currently offering the chance for inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses to present their product ideas to a panel of industry experts focusing on product design and manufacture, patents, registering and intellectual property, finance, funding and grants and marketing and promotion. For further information please visit:
http://www.mas-se.org.uk/events/new-product-development-and-commercial-success
Ends
Media enquiries to:
Charlotte Vine, Senior Account Manager
Harvest PR
Tel: 023 9244 9655
Email: charlotte.vine@harvestpr.co.uk
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East
MAS South East provides companies with practical help and hands-on support in all aspects of manufacturing; offering easy access to professional and experienced manufacturing specialists focused on delivering real bottom line benefits – ‘Support for manufacturers from manufacturers’.
Launched by the Government in 2002, MAS is a key component of the Government’s Solutions for Business portfolio and plays a vital role in giving UK manufacturers the support they need to improve productivity and achieve success in an increasingly competitive global economy.
MAS South East supports manufacturers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
MAS Contributes to and Celebrates Manufacturing Success.
