@inproceedings{dfbacfe96abe4dad91026b170f14bd19,
title = "A new product development framework for a timber processing company",
abstract = "Customer perceptions of products continuously change over time. Marketing specialists are generally tasked with the responsibility of rebranding and product changes. However this is normally technology driven, with inputs from engineering designers and manufacturers providing the designs and feasibilities for either modifying existing designs or developing new ones. An opportunity arose at a timber processing company where a variety of products such as domestic and commercial furniture are manufactured. This paper reports on the development of a framework for formulating new products using the wide array of hard and soft wood that the company processes. A work study was conducted, focusing on the company's production capacity, sales history of their twenty-three products, market trends and interviews with current customers. The research set out to develop innovative and new product platforms (product families) that are unique and represent the company while satisfying customer needs and requirements. A stage-gate model of the New Product Development (NPD) framework was formulated. Coupled with Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and weighted objectives, the use of the stage-gate model was demonstrated in the development of a four wheeler coffee table into a prototype. Implementation of the stage-gate model and further research into the four-wheeler coffee table were recommended as well as other areas related to NPD.",
keywords = "New product development, Quality function deployment, Stage-gate modelling",
author = "Nyemba, {Wilson R.} and Tawanda Mushiri and Charles Mbohwa and Shoniwa, {Kuda J.}",
year = "2016",
language = "English",
series = "Lecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science",
publisher = "Newswood Limited",
pages = "674--679",
editor = "Ao, {S. I.} and Ao, {S. I.} and Len Gelman and Ao, {S. I.} and Len Gelman and Hukins, {David W.L.} and Andrew Hunter and Korsunsky, {Alexander M.}",
booktitle = "WCE 2016 - World Congress on Engineering 2016",
note = "World Congress on Engineering 2016, WCE 2016 ; Conference date: 29-06-2016 Through 01-07-2016",
}