When you’re knee deep in product development, it can be very easy to lose sight of the people that you’re creating your product for. After all, with the day-to-day tasks and challenges that come along thick and fast, it’s hard to keep a long-term view and perspective.
When designer engineers need analysts to validate the designs that they’re working on, there are a couple of challenges that can get in the way. First of all, you need work to the analyst’s schedule. Second, it can be difficult to quickly and efficiently address any design issues that emerge as a result of the analysis.
Software completely changes the way we interact with a product. It changes what that product can do. It changes the way that product can collect information about its usage, its diagnostics and its service needs.
People want different things. In the modern world, where customisation and personalisation are becoming increasingly common and expected, it's no longer enough to make a single product that you ship everywhere in the world.
For companies, getting products to market faster than ever before is a key priority.
It’s about making sure you get ahead, and stay ahead, of your competition. And, at the same time, working ensuring your products are still the best in class option for your customers. It’s a challenge for manufacturers across the world. But, to be successful, companies are increasingly required to optimise their product development processes and reduce time to lead.
You’re no doubt familiar with the trend for smart products - perhaps you are even reading this blog on your smartphone or tablet. But this trend for smart products is not just referring to phones and computers. It can refer to any product that has the ability to behave in a smart way.
You are working on a new product design and need a particular part to complete the model. So, what are your options in this situation? Often engineers will opt to design a new part: purpose designed and built for the new product.
A recent study conducted by Oxford Economics, in partnership with PTC, explores the expected impact over manufacturing transformation over the next three years. The global research study questioned 300 manufacturing executives from a range of different business functions and industries. The aim of the survey was to validate a hypothesis on manufacturing transformation; to find out how the changing manufacturing landscaping is affective companies around the globe.
Companies that are designing sophisticated products, with either electro-mechanical or highly engineered components need to balance product development costs, quality and time to market pressures.
If you’re an engineer, you know you’re pretty important to the product development process. But, as well, there are lots of other people who need to be involved in the project. First of all, there are other engineers in your team.