Strategic Product Development and Innovation in the 90's, 1993 Hot Melt Symposium Proceedings

Thomas E. Parry

The long recession of the past several years has caused manufacturing companies to take a hard look at the way new products are developed. Pressures have been increasing to develop quality products quicker, with less resources expended, while also considering questions of being environmentally "friendly". This is all occurring while R&D resources are in tighter supply and customer buying decisions focus more on unit price and product function rather than the more general areas of perceived value and "marketing spin".

This paper will present the system being used at Findley Adhesives to contend with this new business reality. Key components of this system to reduce wasted energy in the development cycle are relationships developed with raw material suppliers and customers, and monitoring results. An example of its successful use in product development from idea to full commercialization and extension will be detailed.