Product design methodology

• US 20030216955A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jim F. Warner, Kenneth Miller
• Original Assignee: Jim F. Warner, Kenneth Miller
• Inventors: Warner, Jim F., Miller, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

The present invention captures information associated with a manufacturer, the manufacturer'"'"'s competitors and consumers in order to improve new product and packaging design match consumer needs with the manufacturer'"'"'s capabilities and competitor strengths. Raw data are translated into actionable information that is used for strategic direction of product and packaging design and development.

Claims

1. A system for providing direction for developing at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, said system comprising:

a client information module, said client information module providing client information, said client information at least one of a client'"'"'s capability, a client'"'"'s constraint and a client'"'"'s concern for developing said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service;

a consumer information module, said consumer information module providing consumer information, said consumer information representing at least one of a consumer'"'"'s perception of at least one of a first product, a first product package and a first service, and a consumer'"'"'s experience with at least one of said first product, said first product package and said first service;

a competitor information module, said competitor information module providing competitor information, said competitor information representing at least one of a second product produced by a competitor, a second product packaging produced by a competitor, a second service provided by a competitor, a consumer'"'"'s expectation of a second product, a consumer'"'"'s expectation of a second product package, and a consumer'"'"'s expectation of a second service;

an information valuing module, said information valuing module employing an algorithm to provide a client information value, a consumer information value and a competitor information value that represent said client information, said consumer information and said competitor information, respectively;

an information ranking module, said information ranking module using an algorithm to rank client information value, said consumer information value and said competitor information value; and

a product and product package development module, said product and product package development module directing development of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service by identifying differences, between said client information value, said consumer information value and said competitor information value as a function of said information ranking module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said client information module further provides at least one representation of technology, marketing and distribution for developing said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said client capabilities include said client'"'"'s ability to provide at least one of manufacturing and operations, research and development, engineering, materials, brand equity, intellectual property, a sales network, market share, pricing power, retailer relationships, a shipping infrastructure, distribution and palletization.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said client constraints include limitations of said client to provide at least one of in-house manufacturing, supplier costs, tooling changes, operations modifications, consumer permission to change said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, compatibility and processing, predisposed image, up-to-date status, time limitations, volume versus unit costs, stocking and detailing, and specific retail venues.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said client concerns include at least one of flexibility, margins, resources, cost and lead time, support, validation, work-arounds, share growth, shelf look and retailer return.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said information ranking module operates electronically.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said consumer information comprises a consumer'"'"'s assessment of attributes for at least one of said first product, said first product package, said first service, a product category, client needs, applications and features of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, wherein said consumer'"'"'s assessment represents a degree of importance said consumer has for said attributes.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said consumer perception includes a belief held by said consumer of said attributes.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said consumer experience represents impressions of said attributes held by said consumer as a function of said consumer'"'"'s direct use of at least one of said first product, said first product package and said first service.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a mapping module, said mapping module providing a first graphical representation of said consumer information and a second graphical representation of at least one of said competitor information, competitor product performance and consumer expectation, and superimposing said first graphical representation and said second graphical representation.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising shifting concentration of development efforts from a first attribute of said product and product packaging to a second attribute of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service as a function of said information ranking module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said consumer information module is adapted to receive consumer information from at least one of interviews, questionnaires and by observing consumers that interact with said at least one of a product, product packaging and a service.

13. A method for providing direction for developing at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, said method comprising:

providing client information, said client information representing at least one of a client'"'"'s capability, constraint and concern for developing said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service;

providing consumer information, said consumer information representing a consumer'"'"'s perception and experience with at least one of a first product, a first product packaging and a first service;

providing expectation information, said expectation information representing at least one of;

a) a consumer'"'"'s expectation of at least one of a second product, a second product packaging and a second service; and

b) at least one of said second product, said second product packaging and sad second service, said second product, said second product packaging and said second service produced by a competitor;

providing a client information value, a consumer information value and an expectation information value to represent said client information, said consumer information and said expectation information, respectively;

ranking said client information value, said consumer information value and said expectation information value; and

basing development of said at least one of a product and product packaging on differences discovered between said client information value, said consumer information value and said expectation information value as a function of said step of ranking.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said client information further represents at least one of technology, marketing and distribution for developing said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said client capabilities include said client'"'"'s ability to provide at least one of manufacturing and operations, research and development, engineering, materials, brand equity, intellectual property, a sales network, market share, pricing power, retailer relationships, a shipping infrastructure, distribution and palletization.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said client constraints include limitations of said client to provide at least one of in-house manufacturing, supplier costs, tooling changes, operations modifications, consumer permission to change said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, compatibility and processing, predisposed image, up-to-date status, time limitations, volume versus unit costs, stocking and detailing, and specific retail venues.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said client concerns include at least one of flexibility, margins, resources, cost and lead time, support, validation, work-arounds, share growth, shelf look and retailer return.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of ranking is performed electronically.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said consumer information comprises a consumer'"'"'s assessment attributes of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service, client needs, applications and features of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service wherein said consumer'"'"'s assessment includes a degree of importance said consumer has for said attributes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said consumer perception includes a belief held by said consumer of said attributes.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said consumer experience represents impressions of said attributes held by said consumer as a function of said consumer'"'"'s direct use of said at least one of said first product, said first product packaging and said first service.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising graphically representing said consumer information on a first overlay and said expectation information on a second overlay, and performing said step of ranking by superimposing said first overlay and said second overlay.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising shifting concentration of development efforts from a first attribute of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service to a second attribute of said at least one of a product, a product packaging and service as a function of said ranking.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving said consumer information by at least one of an interview, a questionnaire or by observing consumers'"'"' behavior.