THE CONTINOUS "FUZZY FRONT END" AS A PART OF THE INNOVATION PROCESS

This work treats the method of creating and the importance of developing new product concepts as a basis for the future products development. Changes occurred in recent years have influenced shortening product's life cycle. Very intensive development of technology and market has significantly affected the process of new product development. Opportunities and ideas have become the main factors for the success of the new products. The basic criteria imposed in this process are to avoid mistakes by selecting weak concept that will engage significant product development resources and will not meet the expected market needs and expectation. Idea generation and evaluation should not be considered only in a Fuzzy Front-End of innovation process but in today's condition it is necessary to be considered as a separate, continuous process with the task of analysing the opportunities and ideas and creating a satisfactory number of concepts for the future products with good market potential. Some of the information presented is gathered during the research and participation in the process of creating new products.