Physical Science, Measurement and Instrumentation, Management and Education, IEE Proceedings A

Any product competes in its market in terms of appearance, ease of use, performance, cost, delivery, safety, reliability, maintainability and many other factors. All of these and, ultimately, the profitability of the company concerned, depend fundamentally on how well the product was designed. Good product design requires good management. Unless the brief is well considered and has been fully understood by a designer of adequate competence, a successful product will not result. Unfortunately, many managers are not skilled in this area. Such managers do not know how to define their requirements or how to ensure that subsequent outcomes are up to scratch. A British Standard dealing with the management of product design has been approved by the appropriate BSI technical committee. The author illustrates the importance, scope and content of this subject, and thereby establishes the benefits available to industry from complying with the guidance contained in this new standard.