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the potential to provide material to development before the process is fully established but at the same time ensure that the product, which is eventually registered, can be manufactured to specifications capable of consistent reproduction. |
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to introduce a flexible production configuration, producing many different, value added, product variants without excessively raising costs. This can often be best achieved through the additions to lines which increase flexibility and increase brand image, e.g., on line tablet printing. |
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the ability to progressively improve the process over time to meet the needs of different points in the life cycle of the product, especially in the face of increased competition. |
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to supply worldwide demand for the product from the minimum number of plants with optimum distribution cost and delivery time to the market. Therefore, managing of the supply chain itself is a consideration as the product is developed. This has many ramifications for plant size, location, and make or buy decisions. |
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This represents a wide combination of objectives which individually are very challenging and combined demand diverse skills from Manufacturing. On the one hand, technical excellence is needed to produce material of a suitable standard for development or sale and to ensure that the optimum process is developed. On the other hand, good commercial understanding is needed to address the logistical issues of supply and cost and the strategic decisions related to risk, time, and cost tradeoffs. Any system of project management established in Manufacturing must meet all of these needs and ensure that none are neglected during the process. |
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IV.
The Changing Demands of Each Phase of Product Development |
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Manufacturing involvement in product development and the life cycle of the product is the only one that never ends (see Table 1). Active development of a molecule by R & D and Marketing ceases when there is no incremental income to be made from the product. Even operating unit marketing groups may stop supporting/detailing a declining product. However, for as long as the product remains on the sales list and orders are received, Manufacturing must continue to support the process. Contracting out may be used to reduce the demands but even then internal technical support is needed. The life cycle of the product in Manufacturing, therefore, can be |
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