FROM CONCEPTUALISATION TO INDUSTRIALISATION – UNCOVERING THE INTRINSIC NATURE OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OF NON-ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS

Abstract

Using a survey mode of inquiry, involving informants from 19[Formula: see text]global manufacturing companies in six sectors of the process industries, this study explores the intrinsic nature of product innovation of non-assembled products. Results show that the characteristics of the “transformation-based” production system in the process industries should not only govern the design of the total product innovation work process and the selection and use of related experimental environment but will also influence the design of the forthcoming production system. It is noted that pilot-planting and full-scale production trials are important instruments not only during the product development phase, but also afterward in solving B2B customers’ post-launch production problems. It is concluded that the experimental output from the product development phase of the product innovation work process for non-assembled products is both a new product design and a new foundation for the production process design.