Making new product development work

When manufacturing new products or making changes to existing products or services, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East specialist Grant Baker (pictured) advised delegates at an MAS seminar 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 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 visit: http://www.mas-se.org.uk/events/new-product-development-and-commercial-success