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Calendar

Week # Ses # Topics Key Dates
1 1

Introduction

We will discuss course logistics and project descriptions. We will also discuss the methods and processes used for product development. Read the Business Week article WINNERS 2001: THE BEST PRODUCT DESIGNS OF THE YEAR, which describes several terrific new products. This is an appropriate time to read the first two chapters of the text: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION and CHAPTER 2: DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS; however we will not have much time to discuss this material in class.

2

Product Planning

Read CHAPTER 3: PRODUCT PLANNING. Consider Thought Question 1 at the end of the chapter. Be prepared to discuss the chapter material and related methods of planning development projects.

2 3

Identifying Customer Needs

Read CHAPTER 4: IDENTIFYING CUSTOMER NEEDS. Consider the thought questions at the end of the chapter. Be prepared to discuss the chapter material and other methods of gathering, organizing, and deploying the "voice of the customer" such as Quality Function Deployment (QFD). You may also find interesting the short Fortune article HOW TO LISTEN TO CONSUMERS.

4

Project Selection

Submit your project proposal before class for distribution in class. The proposal must be on one 8.5x11 page, one side only, suitable for B&W reproduction. Be sure to include a descriptive (2-4 words) title, your name, email, and phone number. Also prepare a 60-second presentation describing your project idea. You may use slides or video if you like, however you will only have 60 seconds. Group and project assignments will be sent by email in the late afternoon. For full details of this proposal assignment, refer to the Project Schedule.

Project Proposals Due

5

Product Specifications

Read CHAPTER 5: PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS. Complete Exercise 1 and be prepared to discuss the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

4 6

Concept Generation

Read CHAPTER 6: CONCEPT GENERATION. Prepare the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

Mission Statement and Customer Needs Due
7

Industrial Design (and Optional Visual Expression Tutorial)

Read CHAPTER 10: INDUSTRIAL DESIGN. You might also enjoy reading the Business Week article TURNING DESIGNERS INTO MANAGERS. Be prepared to discuss the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

In this optional tutorial session, you may learn and practice how to express concepts visually. Bring a sketchpad, pencil, eraser, marker, and a ruler.

5 8

Concept Selection

Read CHAPTER 7: CONCEPT SELECTION. Consider the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

Concept Sketches and Target Specifications Due
9

Prototyping

Read CHAPTER 12: PROTOTYPING. Consider the thought questions at the end of the chapter. Also be prepared to discuss and critique the prototyping experiences and plans for your project.

6 10

Product Architecture

Read CHAPTER 9: PRODUCT ARCHITECTURE. Complete one of the exercises at the end of the chapter and be prepared to discuss the thought questions.

Preliminary Concept Selection Due
11

Faculty Project Consulting

In this class session, your team will have time to review your concepts with the course faculty. Bring your customer needs lists, target specifications, concept drawings, and any questions you have for discussion.

7 12

Peer Concept Review

Each team will give a 10-minute presentation to describe your their market opportunity and selected concept to the class. We will split the class into two groups so you will have the opportunity to critique half of the teams' projects. For more details, refer to the Project Schedule.

Final Concept, Model, and Schedule Due
9 13

Product Development Economics

Read CHAPTER 13: PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS. Consider the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

14

Design for Manufacturing

Read CHAPTER 11: DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING and skim the article DESIGN FOR ASSEMBLY IN ACTION by Dewhurst and Boothroyd. Be prepared to discuss the thought questions at the end of the chapter. Think about the relationship between product architecture and DFM. Bring a VHS videocassette to class to take apart. (Do not buy these as a group; we want to have many different tapes for comparison.)

10 15

Robust Design

Read THE TAGUCHI APPROACH TO PARAMETER DESIGN by Byrne and Taguchi. Consider the role of robust design in satisfying the customer. If you were designing a brownie mix to be sold in grocery stores, how might you use the Taguchi parameter design method to develop the best recipe? What would be the controllable input parameters, the uncontrollable sources of noise , and the measurable outputs for your experiments? Also read BOOST YOUR MARKETING ROI WITH EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN by Almquist and Wyner for a perspective on how carefully planned experiments are effective in tuning even sales campaign parameters.

Drawings, Plans, and Revised Schedule Due
16

Faculty Project Consulting

In this class session, your team will have time to review your project with the course faculty. Bring your design drawings and any questions you have for discussion.

17

Intellectual Property

Read INTRODUCTION TO PATENTS AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY by Pressman. Find a patent number on a product that interests you. Then locate a copy of the patent (text and illustrations) and read it. You may research patent information on the internet. See the course web page for helpful links.

12 18

Concept Testing

Read CHAPTER 8: CONCEPT TESTING. Consider both of the thought questions at the end of the chapter.

Financial Model and Patent Review Due
19

Braun Case Discussion

Prepare the case BRAUN AG: THE KF 40 COFFEE MACHINE. What does "design" mean in the context of this case? What is "visual equity"? What firms do you know of with strong visual equity? Should the Braun team go with the rippled tank? Critique Dieter Rams' "principles of design". This is also a good time to look at the copy of @issue included in the readings packet (or handed out in class). There are articles about the role of industrial and graphic design in branding, corporate identity, marketing, and product design.

13 20

Design for Environment

Read the short article PAPER VERSUS POLYSTYRENE: A COMPLEX CHOICE and skim the chapter STRATEGIES FOR GREEN DESIGN. An optional reading for this session, entitled A DECLARATION OF SUSTAINABILITY, is also included in your packet.

21

Organizing Concurrent Engineering

Read the article INNOVATION AT THE SPEED OF INFORMATION, which introduces the design structure matrix (DSM) method. Consider the differences in how small product development projects and large ones need to be managed. How can the organizational principles you have learned be applied to a large project involving hundreds of people?

14 22

Supply Chain Design

Read IS THE MAKE-BUY DECISION PROCESS A CORE COMPETENCE? by Fine and Whitney. Think about and be prepared to discuss some examples where companies may have mortgaged their technical future due to narrowly considered outsourcing decisions possibly made years ago.

Alpha Prototype Due
Final Project Presentations Final Presentation and Prototype Demonstration Due