Consumer products and medical device development challenges differ – so should teams

[Image from ICS]Stephanie Van Ness, Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS) Today’s consumers have steep expectations. They want products that solve their immediate problems. But they also want new and innovative products that make their lives easier or better in some way, setting the bar ever-higher for manufacturers. As a result, product development is trickier than ever. And, if we’re talking product development in the medical device arena, where one poorly designed device can spell disaster for both user and manufacturer, the challenges (and risks) are off the charts. One way manufacturers of consumer products or medical devices can cope is by assembling the right development team — professionals hand-picked for not just technical expertise but also “soft” attributes like work style and temperament. Similar but not the same Consumer electronics and medical devices are two different animals so product development approaches (and teams) that work for one likely don’t for the other. Sure, there’s some overlap, particularly in the ideation and early R&D phases. Consumers of all stripes desire innovation. People don’t want the same old, same old. They want new ideas, new thinking. But new thinking that satisfies a need, not pie-in-the-sky innovation for the mere sake of innovation. Using research tools like ‘Voice of the Customer’ to get customer input upfront — to identify customer wants and needs at the outset and ensure the finished device is...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Blog ICS Source Type: news