Product design -: Accelerated product development through customer involvement

During the 1990s globalization prompted the chemical industry to refocus on its core competencies: the development of innovative products. Some companies modified the structures of their organizations and projects to make development more effective. Today, a team made up of product and process developers along with marketing controls the individual steps of product development, involving internal and external experts. Customers are involved in the development, from the idea for a new product until the launch, which helps to speed up and to target management and to minimize the risk of a flop. A product idea takes shape as the chemical and technical possibilities for its development are discussed, followed by a review of the proposal. The "innovation thermometer" can be used to assess its inventiveness, the "barometer" allows an assessment of an idea's chances in the market. Product development must be very quick to secure the market success of a novelty. Ten conditions must be met to carry out accelerated product development. These are discussed in detail. Solid detergents are used as an example to discuss the analysis of consumer requirements. There is a variety of interesting technologies to influence particle design, especially to improve the product's appearance, that can be integrated into the production process.