Essential elements
- Objective market assessment (problem being solved for user, understanding of criteria inducing customer to buy)
- Define product requirements (features, functions, cost, and volumes)
- End product must deliver on a business opportunity
Common design mistakes to avoid
- Development activities lose sight of product requirements causing project to go off course and miss deadlines
- Over-designing for the application (increases cost, weight)---scheduling problems result
- Misunderstanding cost, time, and expertise required for the product design process
- Not enough reliability testing of the new product
Best process
- Tailor the design process to the project complexity, regulatory needs, and risk profile of the client
Embrace smart products
- Incorporate sensors, processing, and wireless communications (but avoid over-design)
- Smart product design usually needs a team with a wide range of expertise---mechanical, electrical, radio-frequency, embedded systems, and application software.