Want To Create A Great Product? First, Forget “User Friendliness”

by Robert Hoekman, Jr.

User-friendliness is the inevitable result of a smart design approach, not the starting point. Here are three criteria to help you develop a useful design brief that will ultimately yield a great product.

Malco Design and Deliver welcomes mechanical design engineer, Tony Rea

Malco Design and Deliver is pleased to introduce our newest Mechanical Design Engineer, Tony Rea.

In his new role, Tony supports product development at Malco Design and Deliver Group by creating solid plastic and metal models using CAD software, analyzing mechanics of assemblies and components for strength and motion capabilities, and estimating and reducing the cost of components and assemblies.

Tony’s experience includes product development and cost analysis for a variety of well-renowned organizations including 3M, IBM and the United States Airforce.

A self-proclaimed “motorhead”, Tony’s interests outside of work include working on his race car (front engine dragster), motocrosss racing, and trail riding.

Please join us in welcoming Tony to the Malco Design and Deliver Group team.

Tool trends: What to expect in 2012

2011 has been a year of economic recovery for tool manufacturers and retailers. Here’s what a couple of well known companies are saying about the market.

According to the NPD Group’s Consumer Tracking Service, online home improvement sales increased 16 percent over 2010. This recovery may be attributed to the fact that, consumers consider tools to be a necessary expense. In fact, many saved money to make home improvement purchases in 2011 ─ most paying with cash or check. Finally, Baby Boomers are spending more money on home improvement products. In 2011, 31 percent of do-it-yourself (DIY) dollars were spent by consumers 55 years of age and older, compared to 25 percent just two years ago.

According to a press release by Craftsman, home improvement-related sales will continue to grow in 2012.

The Power of Questions

Henny Penny's manufacturing team proudly unveils their latest innovation, the Evolution Elite fryer.

Do any of you remember the 1983 movie, “Yentl”, starring Barbara Streisand? In the movie, Streisand plays a young Jewish girl who masquerades as a boy in order to gain admission to a Jewish bible school.

One of the most memorable scenes from that movie for me was when she was taking the oral admission exam. She failed the knowledge test, but was admitted to the school because the examiner was so impressed by the questions she asked.

Rob Connely, President of Henny Penny Corporation, recently wrote a nice article about how Henny Penny has used questions to create a successful new product development program.  Here’s the article:

If You Truly Want to Innovate, Be Willing to Ask Tough Questions

Any organization can hold brainstorming meetings, form committees and plot product roadmaps. It takes a different kind of company to take the next steps of actively pursuing an innovative spirit.

By Rob Connelly, president, Henny Penny Corp.

Nov. 1, 2011

Innovation that directly benefits the customer is a key element to success for manufacturers. Even with the best products, competitive value and outstanding service, no manufacturer can afford to remain static while competitors, technology and customers move forward.

I personally know the value of stressing innovation within the organization. At Henny Penny, we talk about it, we invest in it, and we celebrate it as a company.

To oversimplify, Henny Penny focuses on making excellent products, building partnerships and employees. But every company says this. The key to valuable innovation =- and ultimately success — is commitment. The path to practical, meaningful innovation begins with:

1. Asking challenging questions such as, “How can we be more creative, scalable, effective?”
2. Eating, breathing and planning for opportunities to innovate — both internally and externally.
3. Regularly measuring growth and improving upon it.
   

Designing Products vs Designing Experiences

David Kelley believes you start to think about things completely different when you think your job is to design the experience of using the device as opposed to designing the device itself. Kelley feels that to captivate an audience you need to build a context around the technology you are marketing and take into consideration how outside factors will affect how your product is perceived. He uses methods of transportation as an example.

Video courtesy of Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Corner

A bad economy great for innovation?

In a recent media conference Kyle Dancho, Stanley Black and Decker’s President of Hand Tools and Fastening said, “Thirty percent of our sales should come from products introduced in the last three years. That’s not a perfect rule. But it keeps innovation at the forefront.”

So, how can companies like Stanley Black and Decker continue to innovate during tough economic times? The same way successful companies have been doing it for years.

Take the Great Depression:

• In 1935, Parker Brothers introduced Monopoly. Over 76 years later, this popular real estate game is still an iconic American pastime.
• From 1929 to 1933, sales of refrigerators (considered one of the most innovative products during the Great Depression) grew by 30%.
• Dupont developed nylon, a fabric that would later be featured in pantyhose, windbreakers and tents.

To survive tough economic times, you can’t make the same widget the way you always have for the same target market at the same price. According to Dancho, diversification can help. “Don’t rely on one spot in the world. Don’t rely on one category.”

You have to be smarter and stronger. So, do your research. Develop solutions for new niche markets. Take risks. Remember: Most companies that gain marketshare during a poor economy retain it.

Works Cited

Clark, Ken. (Oct. 5, 2011). “Economy won’t stop innovation, says Stanley exec”. Home Channel News. Retrieved from http://www.homechannelnews.com/article/economy-wont-stop-innovation-says-stanley-exec?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=david.clark@malcod2group.com&utm_content=HCN-NLE-Daily-10-06-11&utm_campaign=HCN%20Thursday%20-%20Headlines%20&%20Featu.

“Innovation in the Great Depression”. (Jan. 28, 2009). Innovate on Purpose. Retrieved from: http://innovateonpurpose.blogspot.com/2009/01/innovation-in-great-depression.html.

“The Story Behind the History-making Game”. The 30s, The Depression, and Darrow. Retrieved from: http://www.adena.com/adena/mo/mo03.htm

Malco Design and Deliver Group welcomes Dan Bodimer as Chief Sales Engineer

Malco Design and Deliver is pleased to introduce our new Chief Sales Engineer, Dan Bodimer. In his new role, Dan will oversee all Malco Design and Deliver projects.

A skilled engineer, Dan’s specialties in plastics molding include: injection, rotation, blow molding, extruded molding and thermal-formed molding. In addition, Dan has expertise in mechanisms, sheet metal stamping and forming and product packaging.

“At five-years-old, Dan took apart his first engine. “There were a few extra pieces, but it was mostly functional.” From that point on, “I (Dan) always figured I’d be either an engineer or a mechanic.” Thirty years and six patents later Dan’s more than an engineer; he’s a thought leader.

In fact, Dan’s product development experience includes senior level positions at NordicTrack, AP Engineering Services, FluidTran, Inc. and 10 years of engineering consulting in a variety of industries.

When asked about his favorite part of product development, Dan said, “I love solving problems people don’t think they can solve… and the look on their faces when you solve them.”

Please join us in welcoming Dan to the Malco Design and Deliver Group team.