Chemie Ingenieur Technik, Vol.74, No.9, 1220-1229, 2002
Product design - Teaming up chemistry and engineering with marketing towards customer orientation
The job profile of the process engineer in chemical industry has gone through a lasting change in the 1990s. Thus, interdisciplinary team work in projects has been established with the aim to create an innovation leadership of the company that is competitive and fast. Developing unique and improved products has brought the consumer's needs into focus. Besides the product performance, the user-friendliness as well as the aesthetics are important aspects that should be taken into account during product design. The history of a product, starting from the idea and ending with its market launch, is described. In this connection, the methodology of the determination and evaluation of consumer needs is a main issue. Process engineering enables the technical execution, whereby the economic as well as the time targets is considered. Hence, creativity are required - and not seldom the creation of novel technologies. Bringing a project to a successful conclusion implies understanding for and appreciation of the colleagues involved from other departments, such as chemistry and business administration (marketing and market research).