New Product Introduction & Development

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Smart Technology & Evolution in the New Energy Economy

Governments and Companies are Investing A Great Deal into Smart Technologies

New electronic product development is an industry that changes so quickly it transforms in the blink of an eye. The world has recently come to a turning point where smart technologies are the code-words of energy development and technologies with and ecological inclination. In the race for eco-friendly and more efficient electronic product development, ZigBee wireless technology is a front-runner. ZigBee literally sets the standards for effective interoperability of power management and storage innovations. Management of everything from household appliances, power storage and integration of various suppliers of renewable energy (such as solar, or wind power) depends on wireless sensor networks.

An interesting side-bar of the Smart Grid phenomenon is that it is operated and owned almost exclusively by industry, with most standards and leadership provided by government.

Evolving Energy

Unless you are an engineer or an electronic product development company you may have never heard of wireless sensor technology ZigBee Wireless sensor technology was created to fulfill the market's increasing hunger for a standards-based cost-effective, wireless network. A reliable interoperable network for energy management was sorely needed; one that could support low power consumption and adequate data rates as well as being highly secure.

The worldwide emphasis on smart energy stimulated a need for simpler, faster development of technologies associated with smarter electronic products. Residential application applied to appliances, lighting, safety, security and management of consumer usage. Consumers and utility companies both can now have more security, control, and flexibility over power management. Electronic product development teams strive to reduce the power consumption, size and cost while bringing products to market faster. Smart Energy, Smart Meters, Smart Grid are all applications designed to reduce energy consumption and increase performance by giving more control at lower costs.

With this growing demand for less power consumption we are going to see tremendous growth in Smart Energy projects over the next few years. Remote monitoring and control applications are already enabling a greener environment. Further developments of Smart Grid home devices are already advancing the goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Today, smart electronic product development companies are embracing these revolutionary “smart technologies” in new product development. In this young energy-driven the scope for new electronic products that improve the efficiency and affordability (as well as safety) of energy development and management is expanding at a breakneck speed. To excel, companies will have to get on board with greener technologies. They must already design with more eco-friendly tools, techniques, and technologies.

Individual opinions vary widely about Smart Grid systems, but all sides concur that our antiquated analog and mechanical electric grid has to be upgraded to modern digital networks. I have seen unconfirmed reports that U.S, utility companies already have signed contracts to install as many as 30 - 45 million Smart Meters.

A recent quote from Kurt Yeager, executive director of the Galvin Electricity Initiative, "Everything [in the current grid is about as out of date as you could imagine, right down to the same old copper wires, rather than newer, more efficient conductive materials that can carry power without as much resistance, energy loss and heat," said Yeager. "There are virtually no power electronics or sensors whatsoever in the system”

The Department of Energy (DOE) is accelerating the development of Smart Grids. Power transmission and distribution grids utilize a Smart Grid to enable more efficient use of electricity. Smart technology addresses energy independence by reducing peak demand periods and using less power at a better price. By implementing advanced metering infrastructure … know as Smart Metering, it is possible to economically provide information as to when and how much electricity is used.

The possibilities seem to be vast for these frontiers!  New ideas for electronic product development are advancing not only Smart Grid technologies but all aspects of designing electronic products. 

The following definition is what the government and utilities that fund the development of grid modernization have specified as required functions for Smart Grids. According to the United States Department of Energy's Modern Grid Initiative report, a modern Smart Grid must:

1. Motivate consumers to actively participate
2. Be secure - attack resistant
3. Provide higher quality power that will save money wasted from outages
4. Accommodate all generation and storage options
5. Enable electricity markets to flourish
6. Optimize assets
7. Run more efficiently
8. Enable higher degree of usefulness of renewable power generation sources
9. Be able to heal itself and join other devices seamlessly

As with the internet, a smart-grid network must link up billions of connections and devices as well as perform functions all at once. It needs to be far more flexible than the current antiquated power system while preserving our natural resources. What a great time to be a scientist or electronic product development company! We are working together to create an evolution, maintaining the old while constructing the future.

Worldwide, anything pertaining to the design, development and implementation of reducing our carbon footprint is in the spotlight. We found that a fascinating aspect of our client’s product is that it meets all of the criteria for greener, cheaper, faster, smarter electronics. The movement toward energy-consciousness has impacted the way electronic product development approaches production, storage, supply and usage of power, from the raw materials stage through product’s end of life. The entire world, simultaneously wants the whole enchilada (functionality, performance, price and energy efficiency) … and they want it right now. Reducing cost has been suddenly elevated to a higher degree than just a few years ago. It’s back in style to save money and reduce costs. Federally mandated regulations such as RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) are part of the equation but, when it comes to demanding eco-friendly electronic products, consumer involvement seems to be packing a greater wallop than formal regulations. People are eager to do their part.

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New Product Development (NPD)
New Product Introduction (NPI)

What is New Product Development and Introduction?

A New Product is defined as a product new to the company marketing it.

New Product Development (NPD), also referred to just as "product development", is defined as the process of strategy, organization, concept generation, product and marketing plan creation and evaluation, and commercialization of a new product.

New Product Introduction (NPI) is the launch of a new product into the marketplace and takes place at the end of a successful product development project.

Advantage NPD/NPI services are for clients with a need for innovation, quality control and rapid time to market.

Our New Product Development/Introduction Services use proven design and development methodologies. Infrastructure you can feel secure about when engaging us to design and develop products that are beyond the scope of your core focus.

New Product Development/Introduction Services

An excellent solution for:

Today's rapid pace requires a new model for product development - a faster more innovative, more rigorous, meticulous and flexible model. One of collaboration and concurrent efforts through the entire product development process. One that is designed to eliminate unnecessary delays and streamline the process. Our integrated approach to New Product Introduction identifies potential risks and barriers early in the design phase and leverages lessons learned from a wide variety of projects to incorporate solutions that eliminate delays in the manufacturing and the product rollout phases. This means your product to market faster more reliably. See Product Examples

Benefit from our New Product Development/Introduction Engine — a systematic set of competencies, principles, processes, practices, tools, methods and skills which combined define the "how" of our ability to drive high value products to the market in a competitive timely manner.

Our Team

Our New Product Development/Introduction Services Team is a multifunctional group of individuals with broad industry experience and innovative thinking providing strong solutions to new product development projects.

With an average of 17 years of industry competence, the talent and experience of the people at Advantage are the foundation of our business. Coming from companies such as GE, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Ball Aerospace and Lockheed Martin, the Advantage New Product Development/Introduction team is known for detailed analysis and accuracy, controlling risk and ensuring our client's success.

These individuals cover the breadth of systems architecture, design solutions and manufacturing applications with the dexterity necessary for new product introduction success. Leaders in product development strategies, industry trends, and technology assessment; when you engage with the Advantage New Product Development/Introduction team you obtain strategic advantage, and expertise.

Program Management

Each project is assigned its own Program Manager.  New Product Development/ Introduction PMs have the breadth of experience to maintain an overview of the project and technical skill to shift easily into technical details. They manage a variety of functions including project scheduling, client and supplier relations, coordination of prototypes, field test, pilot and production builds, supplier assessments for cost, capacity, inventory and cycle time management; all vital to the success of product development and the manufacturing processes.

Consequently, in this role, the Program Manager is our client's point of contact and accountability.

Let us customize a solution based on your program needs. With industry experience across a multitude of product categories – telecommunications, healthcare, industrial instrumentation and commercial to aerospace products combined with a culture of collaborative development, engineering and manufacturing - Advantage would like to assist with your next NPI effort.

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