A successful new product design can be a valuable asset to a company.

Start with a strategic plan in which many different elements are considered. Ron Barnett, Product Development Manager at Interpower^®, shares some initial steps relating to a new electrical or electronic product design, including what should be accounted for from the beginning of the process by the designer.

Identify

“One of the first steps is to identify the market your product is destined for,” Ron said. “This means choosing a specific component for the product design. Conduct extensive research to determine if this new idea merits further consideration. Focus on what will be of value to the customers and what will delight them.”

Investigate

“Whether exporting globally or domestically, with an electrical or electronic product you will need to investigate the safety standards and test requirements your product will be required to meet,” Ron said.

It is important to determine which national and/or international standards apply to the specific product design. Specific clauses in a standard may require special design considerations. For example, there may be a materials requirement—according to some test agencies, some plastics are required to be made with specific material properties. There may also be component dimensions and tolerances specifically defined in a standard in which the component design is not allowed to deviate from.

“Depending on the scope of the design and expertise needed, an in-country consultant may be required to navigate through a standard’s documentation,” Ron added.

Incorporate

When ready to start actually designing the product, incorporate the knowledge learned through research. “If internal testing resources are available, develop a preliminary test plan to perform verification testing throughout the entire design process,” he said. “These tests should be similar to what the test agency will perform.”

Testing the product throughout the process can help to give a competitive advantage and may help to reduce potentially costly mistakes. “The intended end use and destination of the product need to be considered. The designer needs to keep in mind which safety standards need to be met for the market and the country. It is important that the designer consider these requirements early in the design process through verification testing,” he added.

Various testing agencies are located throughout the world. Since each one has its own requirements, it is essential to know what is required by the agency that will be used.

Objectives

For a continued positive impact, incorporate the following objectives throughout the design process.

• Uphold the highest quality of ethics with professionalism and teamwork.
• Ensure compliance with product safety agencies and customer requirements.
• Incorporate product guidelines to meet market demands.
• Ensure control of product specifications.
• Manage and continually improve the product development process.
• Utilize and coordinate external engineering resources to meet product design needs.

Additional Resources

Interpower offers free technical support. For further assistance, please see Interpower’s contact information below.