From customer understanding to design for processability: reconceptualizing the formal product innovation work process for non-assembled products

This paper explores company design of a formal work process for non-assembled products, using a survey mode of inquiry with a follow-up questionnaire in an interactive dialogue with selected case-companies. The preliminary findings suggest that in the development or reconfiguration of company product innovation work processes in the process industries, it is advisable to design a work process that is adapted to inherent and contextual process-industrial conditions. It is further indicated that such a product innovation work process requires greater product and process integration from ideation to product launch and increased focus on the industrialization phase. The proposed novel five-phase structural model presented in a Stage-Gate format, can be deployed as a guiding template in company development or reconfiguration of an enhanced product innovation work process for the development of non-assembled products.