Operations and Supply Chain Management Assignment
CHAPTER 4 QUESTIONS:
According to your text, Design has a tremendous impact on the quality of a product or service.
An effective design process encompasses all of the following: matches product or service characteristics with customer requirements; ensures that customer requirements are met in the simplest and least costly manner; reduces the time required to design a new product or service; and minimizes the revisions necessary to make a design
workable.
A Product’s Design shall define the appearance of the of the product, set standards for
performance, specify which materials are to be used, and determine dimensions and tolerances.
Figure 4.1, or, slide number 5 from Chapter 4 slides, The Design Process, shows the steps that
are involved in a Design Process.
The Design Process begins with understanding the customer and actively identifying customer
needs.
Ideas for new products or improvements to existing products can be generated from many sources, including customer complaints or suggestions, sales persons in the field and even from competitors.
Once marketing has taken the ideas that are generated and the customer needs that are identified from the first stage of the design process and formula tedalternative product and service concepts, the promising concepts undergo a feasibility study that includes several types of analyses beginning with a market analysis.
Market researchers use customer surveys, interviews, focus groups, and market tests to determine whether there is
enough demand for the proposed product to justify further investment in it.
If the demand potential exists, then there is an economic analysis that looks at estimates of production and
development costs and compares them to estimated sales volume.
A price range for the product that is compatible with the market segment and image of the new product is discussed.
Quantitative techniques may be used to evaluate the profit potential of the project.
Finally, there are technical and strategic analysis that answer such questions as: “does the new product
require new technology?”; “does the company have the capability to support the new product?”;
“is the new product compatible with the core business of the firm?”
Design for manufacture guidelines that promote good design practice include: (1) minimizing the number of parts and subassemblies; (2) avoiding tools, separate fasteners, and adjustments; (3)
using standard parts; (4) designing parts for many uses; (5) designing for ease of assembly and
minimal handling; and (6) allowing for efficient and adequate testing and replacement of parts.
What makes a good product design? How can the design process improve the quality of design and speed a new product to market?
How is product design related to operations and supply chain management? How do we create a sustainable product or service?
Chapter 4 is a fun
chapter with lots of opportunities for discussion and learner involvement. Math is not
overwhelming