Visibility Comments on Eto in Design Product News

According to Stephen Carson, executive vice-president of Visibility Corporation, “ETO impacts the changing role of engineering in product design including, numerous possible product and design permutations, shifting customer specification, lengthy product design and approval process and engineering design release schedule synchronized with production.”

According to manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, in a recent issue of Design Product News, “ETO automation systems have a direct impact on product design, he adds, because factors that includes:

* Configuration of a 3D product model for use by the customer and/or sales engineer

* Automated engineering analyses based on the 3D product model and the product’s intended usage environment

* Creation of detailed drawings down to the piece-part level for internal engineering and manufacturing use

* Generation of BOM, price quote, work orders, and other documents

* Automated NC tool path generation

* Data management/archiving of various product configurations

* Secure, web-based access to product configurations with customer access restricted to only their own designs

Cutler concludes, “Knowledge-capture and reuse software for ETO manufacturers … allows manufacturers to respond to customer-specific orders more rapidly, accurately and efficiently.”

The complete article may be viewed at http://ads.clbmedia.ca/newsatwork/content/DPN/2007_077_DPN_March_2007/DPN_March_2007.html.

Visibility Corporation (www.visibility.com) is a leading developer and supplier of business software solutions designed for the unique needs of project-based, engineer-to-order and to-order manufacturers. Visibility’s Enterprise Application solutions help midsize manufacturers of complex products operate their businesses effectively. Visibility has an extensive customer base throughout North America and Europe and has the strongest representation of ERP among complex manufacturers.

VISIBILITY.net is an integrated ERP solution and more. Offering unparalleled functionality and integrated workflow, this browser-based solution cost effectively delivers the power of .NET-based Web services for use with either a Microsoft SQL Server™ or Oracle® database. Conducting business any place, any time, any where is a reality, deployable with unprecedented flexibility.

3D CAD Modeling Services Enhance Realistic Impression on Your Product Designs

Three Dimensional (3D) Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling services enhance realistic impression on the look and feel of designed products of an emerging company in this online world. It is seen that 3D models have more impact on a viewers mind and able attract towards it in comparison to ordinary drawings or 2D images. Using 3D modeling services helps move products more rapidly and cost efficiently from the design stage to a finished product by providing prototypes to designers and engineers. Our 3D CAD modeling services produce prototypes, which are accurate, smooth and quickly provided by using rapid prototyping technology. Using a number of related concepts and consumer requirements, 3D models are developed for design engineers, contractors and agencies. With the increase of latest product design market, our 3D models have found a valuable need in the marketplace and are fulfilling all the requirements of product designers.

Now days 3D models are widely used along with Computer Aided Design (CAD). Our 3D CAD modeling services covers wide areas like Architectural design, Mechanical design, Structural design, product design, furniture design, footwear design and many more upcoming designed projects. 3D models are more functional and attractive. We develop 3D models in digital format with the help of latest computer softwares, which are easy editable, cost-effective and less time consuming. Those models can be represented online through your company web pages effectively with complete description.

Our 3D modeling services assist in the prototype testing phase by producing multiple prototypes quickly and more efficiently. Where redesigning, retooling and recreating prototypes in house requires a considerable amount of resources and time, Our 3D modeling services can have a redesigned prototype ready for the next phase of testing in a much shorter period of time and for less money than conventional methods. Our 3D CAD modeling services can help companies continue more economically and to comply with production schedules without any undue delays.

Engineers and design technicians can use 3D models during the conceptual stages of product design to produce prototypes of new products. Our 3D designers are able to produce rapid prototypes and provide working models of the product in development. Having working prototypes during various stages of the design process helps engineers to bring products to the stage more efficiently. Traditional prototyping methods were time consuming, costly and created many delays in the product development process. But now with outsourcing of our 3D modeling services providing companies to save the overhead expense and bring products for the next stage of development.

Our 3D modeling services allow the consumers to be developers, designers, end-users and purchasers of the product. The technology used for 3D modeling services allows an individual to have an impact in all of these roles which were in the past off limits. OriGeoCAD plays a vital role in research and development but will also play a role in providing brand new market services to both consumers and business owners.

We at OriGeoCAD provide 3D design and modeling services with having years of experience in CAD outsourcing industry. Our expert CAD designers able to provide you the industry best quality 3D modeling services with proper time bound. OriGeoCAD has improved the quality and effectiveness of designs, giving designers an extent of workable options to choose from. We provide 3D modeling services for existing buildings, Architectural design, Mechanical design, Structural design, product design, furniture design, footwear design, shoe and other abstract shaped object. Our experienced 3D modeling team will create its exact and high quality model upon your request.

Lean Product Development Process – Using Stage-Gates To Speed The Development Cycle

Abstract

How many products hit the market and are too expensive, too big, don’t have the desired features or take too long to develop?

Lean is a Process Improvement Tool to reduce waste in organizations.  Few processes cross over as many different departments in a company as product development.  Product development can include hard-goods, software or new services.  As the efforts cross marketing, research, engineering, purchasing, operations and sales there are numerous opportunities for the product development effort to stall or reverse direction.  This can be due budget problems becoming visible; product definition being rushed and/or the operational problems.

By applying Lean concepts to product development, you can create profitable products faster.  However, before you do, you will have to learn that sometimes slower is faster.

The Lean Product Development Process

Return on Investment Analysis & Stage-gate
Marketing Specification & Stage-gate
Concept Design & Stage-gate
Design Product or Service & Stage-gate
Pilot Manufacturing Run (if applicable) & Stage-gate
Field Test & Stage-gate
Launch Marketing Plan
Review Product Profitability versus Plan

Each stage of the Lean Product Development Process will be explained.  However, more important than each individual stage is the concept of the “stage-gate”.  A stage-gate is a place in the process that, after everyone signs-off, they cannot go backwards.

Initially, stage-gates can seem to slow down the process.  Until the department or team downstream of a stage-gate accepts the input to their stage of the process the effort cannot go forward.  However, this will actually make the process faster, and much more effective, because it creates accountability and eliminates the possibility of getting a product that is too expensive, slow, large, etc. from getting to the market.  Products are designed to sell profitably and launch when scheduled.

The other importance of the stage-gate process is that as product development progresses, it gets more expensive.  Final design requires more time and resources than concept design.  Pilot manufacturing is a significant expenditure due to tooling requirements.  Finally, the launch of the product is most expensive of all stages, as the company will be spending money to market the product and will most likely begin marketing expenditures.

Return on Investment Analysis

This stage is the primary responsibility of the Marketing Team.  They will:

Understand the need
Create the concept
Develop sales forecast
Identify cost targets
Work with Research and/or Development/Engineering to define the product development budget and timeline
Present financial return on investment for approval

This initial stage creates the financial case for developing this product or service.  By creating the sales forecast based on initial cost targets, the Marketing Team takes responsibility for the final sales and profits that result from this product development effort.  Because Research and/or Development/Engineering is involved they get early buy-in and communication on the concept.

Once this stage-gate is passed the company agrees to move forward with the concept design.  Management can kill the effort at this point or give its approval to move forward to concept design.

Marketing Specification

The Marketing Product Development Representative will define their requirements for the product or service.  This may include:

Critical dates
Development budget
Target market and application
Performance specs
Functional requirements
Appearance/Size specs
Unit-Sales expectations
Regulatory standards
Competitors’ products
Life expectancy
Determine field-test sites

When the Marketing Rep documents this list of requirements they will meet with Research or Development/Engineering, who will sign-off and accept this as their concept design input.  This is another stage-gate.  Now the project is in the hands of the Research or Development/Engineering Team to create their conceptual design.

Concept Design

If this product involves innovative technology, then typically the Research team will be responsible for concept design.  Research would be responsible for handing the Development/Engineering team a “developable” concept design.  If the product is an extension of existing technology, then typically it moves right to the Development/Engineering team.

Research or Development/Engineering will brainstorm possible designs and create mock-ups of this design if needed and budgeted.  They may work with purchasing to gather preliminary vendor costs.  The output of this stage is a conceptual design (which can be a drawing, 3-D model, service or software demo), estimated cost, design timeline and test data if appropriate.

At this stage-gate Marketing, Development/Engineering and Operations must sign-off on the conceptual design.  If they reject it, then the team responsible for concept design has to refine the concept.  This may involve changing the appearance, cost, functionality, etc.

Design Product

This stage is the responsibility of Development/Engineering with input from Purchasing and Operations.  This stage includes:

Create detailed design budget and timeline
Finalize design
Run failure mode & effects analysis (FMEA)
Create detailed demo, model and bill of material
Create work breakdown structure
Choose components and select vendors (working with purchasing)
Produce prototype
Document test requirements
Design packaging
Create initial customer manuals
Determine final cost

When this is complete and the prototype is produced or procured there will be a stage-gate approval meeting with Sales and Marketing.  They must approval the cost, appearance and functionality.

Pilot Manufacturing Run (If the product is a hard-good)

Pilot manufacturing is a collaborative effort between Development/Engineering, Purchasing and Manufacturing.  While design-for-manufacturability may have been used during final design, this stage represents the transfer from Development/Engineering to Manufacturing.  Vendors and Manufacturing are tooling up to produce parts.  When the pilot manufacturing stage is complete Manufacturing is expected to have completed all production and testing documentation (standard operating procedures).

Field Test

Install product at customer field test sites
Run product
Evaluate results with Marketing
Make changes if necessary
Finalize customer manuals

Pilot run production prototypes are sent to field-test sites.  The purpose of this test is find problems.  These problems may include quality issues, durability, functionality, installation, etc.  Hopefully none are found, but if we were 100% confident of this, then field-testing wouldn’t be needed.  Some organizations have separate Field-Test groups.  Often field testing may be done by Technical Service teams or can be managed by Development/Engineering.

Marketing Launch

Review launch schedule
Distribute promotional material
Distribute training material if applicable
Train Sales Force
Train Customer Service
Review initial customer service data
Provide feedback to Development/Engineering and Operations

Once field testing is complete and the design in locked down, the company is ready to start selling.  Selling must be preceded by training for sales reps, customer service and customers.  The selling process must be planned like all other steps in the product development process.

Evaluate Results

The last step of the product development process is to evaluate results.  This is often-overlooked.  Many companies accept the results they are getting.  The most successful companies evaluate the actual results to their original budget.  If sales are under budget then they evaluate why and make adjustments to the next product development effort.  If sales are over budget then this too is evaluated to understand what led to this success.

The Role of Documentation in Product Development

Task
Primary Department Responsible
Specific Person Responsible
Measure of Success Description
Documentation of Success

It is important to document the product development process.  While we don’t want to create un-necessary paper or electronic files, there needs to be proof that each step of the process is done successfully and a clear definition of what success means.

The actual product development process is usually a minimum of 100 discreet steps.  More complex products are far more detailed.  Therefore, we need to define what documentation clearly shows that each step was successfully completed.  The bullet points above provide the minimum information we expect to see on the Product Development Checklist.

Wire Mesh Product in UK

Rvrugg in manufacture and sales of metal wire mesh and wire mesh products. Working with both mild and stainless steels, we specialise in bespoke, cost effective solutions for our customers over a wide range of industries.

The company enjoys latest wire mesh machines, strong technical development and research capability and complete quality control system. With choice materials, we mainly produce stainless steel wire mesh, chain link fence, stainless steel wire, galvanized wire, barbed wire, woven wire mesh and woven wire cloth, welded wire mesh, galvanized wire mesh, wire products, wire mesh machines and other wire products. We also hope to cooperate with reliable foreign companies in the form of joint venture or with introduction of foreign technology and advanced machines to improve our current production.

We can mainly supplies various wire and wire mesh products at full sizes, mainly Stainless Steel Wire Display Stands, Dutch Woven Wire Cloth, Wire Mesh Fences, Fiberglass Insect Screen, Brass Wire Mesh, Galvanized Wire Mesh, Welded Wire Mesh, Square Wire Mesh, Hexagonal Wire Netting, Expanded Metal Mesh, Crimped Wire Mesh, Chain Link Fence, Barbed Wire, Black Wire Cloth, Barbecue Grill Netting, Rib Lath, Iron Wire, Galvanized Wire, etc.

Our products are widely used in petroleum, chemical, construction, textiles, medicine, airspace, expressway, highway, railway, garden fencing, breeding, metallurgy and machinery.

We can process and design products according to the specific requirements of our customers.

We would like to cooperate with business friends from home and abroad with our quality products and excellent services.

With our R& D capability, we can also produce according customers’ most specific requirements. For years, we have earned good reputation among customers with our quality products, commitment to contract and excellent services. We have exported our products to all over world.

If you are interested in any of this kind of product, please contact us with no hesitation, we’d be glad to serve you.

Wire Mesh Product in UK

Rvrugg in manufacture and sales of metal wire mesh and wire mesh products. Working with both mild and stainless steels, we specialise in bespoke, cost effective solutions for our customers over a wide range of industries.

The company enjoys latest wire mesh machines, strong technical development and research capability and complete quality control system. With choice materials, we mainly produce stainless steel wire mesh, chain link fence, stainless steel wire, galvanized wire, barbed wire, woven wire mesh and woven wire cloth, welded wire mesh, galvanized wire mesh, wire products, wire mesh machines and other wire products. We also hope to cooperate with reliable foreign companies in the form of joint venture or with introduction of foreign technology and advanced machines to improve our current production.

We can mainly supplies various wire and wire mesh products at full sizes, mainly Stainless Steel Wire Display Stands, Dutch Woven Wire Cloth, Wire Mesh Fences, Fiberglass Insect Screen, Brass Wire Mesh, Galvanized Wire Mesh, Welded Wire Mesh, Square Wire Mesh, Hexagonal Wire Netting, Expanded Metal Mesh, Crimped Wire Mesh, Chain Link Fence, Barbed Wire, Black Wire Cloth, Barbecue Grill Netting, Rib Lath, Iron Wire, Galvanized Wire, etc.

Our products are widely used in petroleum, chemical, construction, textiles, medicine, airspace, expressway, highway, railway, garden fencing, breeding, metallurgy and machinery.

We can process and design products according to the specific requirements of our customers.

We would like to cooperate with business friends from home and abroad with our quality products and excellent services.

With our R& D capability, we can also produce according customers’ most specific requirements. For years, we have earned good reputation among customers with our quality products, commitment to contract and excellent services. We have exported our products to all over world.

If you are interested in any of this kind of product, please contact us with no hesitation, we’d be glad to serve you.

Product Promotion With Gifts

Gifts are one of the best ways to promote your business. Effectiveness of this method is time tested and numerous success stories are there to justify it.

Depending on the size of your organization you conduct your promotional campaign. On small scale you can manage it on your own. At large scale you can hire professional organizations dealing in product promotion.

Before starting you need to ask few questions:

•    What are promotional products or promotional items?
•    Where can you find them?
•    Which promotional item will suitable for your business?
•    How effective these promotional items are?

Promotional item can be any gift item like table clock, promotional mugs or promotional pens. They can be simple mass produced items or exclusively crafted product. Accordingly their prices differ from inexpensive to expensive.

Depending upon your requirements you can choose their range and most of the manufactures will personalize them as per your specifications.

There are thousands of manufacturers through out the world who make fine gift items. Most of them provide their services online. They even help you find product for you need. They will even design product as per your requirements.

To select a product you can go by your gut feeling. If you want professional help you can avail the services of numerous online vendors or professional organizations engaged in product promotion. They will study your needs. Find an appropriate occasion and help you arrange the event for effective results.

If you have doubt about the effectiveness of product promotion you can view different success stories on the net. Product promotion has a long and successful history. In fact first known reference of the promotion comes from the election of George Washington in 1789. Since then it has been used around the world. With the time its overall effectiveness has increased thousand times. In essence these success stories suggest increase in various dimensions of the business like

•    More sales
•    Increase in revenues
•    Loyal customers
•    Better brand recognition

Once you have selected the promotional items or business gifts, next question arises what are the right moments for giving those gifts. New Year has been used universally as an occasion to trade gifts for business and non-business reasons. Besides New Year few occasions that provide us ideal occasion for giving gifts are:

•    Birthdays
•    Retirement
•    Anniversaries
•    Product promotion
•    Trade Fairs
•    Business gifts for festival
•    Thank you gesture

Depending on the occasion and person receiving the gift you can choose product that can be used by the person for

•    Personal use
•    Official use

So find out the promotional product of your choice and promote your business using the right occasion.

Why Do You Need Paraben Free Products in Your Cosmetics?

 

I’m sure by now, whether from me or someone else you have heard about the need to seek out paraben free products.

 

What is paraben, and why the need to rid them from your cosmetics products?

 

If you don’t know the answers to those questions then hold on tight, because the answers may startle you.

 

The reason that there is such a strong pitch for paraben free products is the because of the inherent health risks involve with using these chemical additives in products that are meant to be absorbed through the skin.

 

Almost every line of cosmetics currently utilizes at least one of these chemicals in each and every one of its products.

 

What is paraben?

 

Parabens are a group of chemicals which are widely used in the cosmetics industry as preservatives.

 

They have strong antibacterial and antifungal properties which makes them a popular additive.

 

They are also relatively low cost ingredients, which may also help explain their popularity.

 

If they are so popular and cost effective, why would there be a push for paraben free products?

 

 

Because for one thing, parabens are believed to be the cause for the development of certain kinds of cancers, particularly breast cancer.

 

They also cause many other serious but less severe ailments.

 

What is parabens link to breast cancer?

 

In one scientific study concerning breast tumors, parabens were literally found inside several of the tumors.

 

It is suspected, but never proven, that the parabens in the breast got there from the use of underarm deodorants or other cosmetics containing the preservative.

 

There is more evidence that we should push for the use of paraben free products also.

 

Parabens have been linked to endocrine system disruption because of the chemicals estrogenic activity.

 

This is suspected in playing a role in some cases of male reproductive tract and breast cancer.

 

 

What is paraben used in other than deodorants?

 

Almost everything that you put on your hair or your body contains parabens.

 

Shampoos, shower gels, moisturizers, shaving gels, toothpaste, personal lubricants, spray tanning solution, and topical cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to name just a few of the products which contain these poisons.

 

There are a few cosmetics manufacturers that believe that it is the right of the consumers to be able to be free of the risk involved with the use of these preservative agents.

 

The members of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, which is governed by the European Union, are a small group of companies that are committed to bringing you paraben free products.

 

The members of the compact are changing the way that cosmetic products are made by using truly natural ingredients in their products.

 

Even their antifungal and antibacterial agents are organic, including grape seed oil and active New Zealand Manuka honey.

 

These companies are designing products for a healthier world.

 

So to give you an answer to what is paraben, I simply reply that they are something that we do not have to have in our cosmetics.

 

Join the companies of the Compact, and make paraben free products a part of your life today.

 

Graphic Designing for All and Sundry

Graphics are basically pictures and drawings, which are either created by computer or entered into the computer through scans or photographs–vector graphics, raster graphics and bit map. The form of communicating through computerized drawings and representations is called graphic designing. Traditionally a poor man’s tool—applied to books and magazines but now with the advent of computers it’s now applied to both print media as well as interactive media. The designing process is a complex step-by-step process, which starts with taking requirements from the client and ends with final designed product.

Graphic designing can be applied to the following:

1. Animated logos

2. Booklets

3. Brochures

4. Business Cards

5. Greeting cards

6. Letterheads

7. Newsletters

8. Posters

9. Postcards

10. Flyers

Graphics are used for visualization purposes. For example wall, typography, symbols, lines and other images.

Animation and graphics

The computer animation industry is the major punter of graphics. With use of 3D computer graphics and 2D computer graphics, this industry stands tall above all. The 3D computer graphics are not only limited to computers but also used in films and other 3D animation.

Computer Games

A computer game is generally categorized under 3D computer graphics. 3D is a great source of entertainment for both young and old. Computer games can be referred to as video games and personal computer games.

How to?

How to acquire graphics that you need? It’s simple-create it yourself! Really, it’s easy to create graphics yourself; one just needs to have a little knowledge about software for creating graphics.

Another great way is to outsource. There are freelancers available online, which do the work for you, charging you for some amount.

Still not aware where to get your work done?

Find more here at http://www.designpresentation.com

Gorgeous and Unique ? Designer Engagement Rings

Designer products are always in high demand because of their high quality, individuality and robustness. There are many renowned designers of engagement rings from different countries. Their rings are exceptional and extremely beautiful. Robbins Bros., Tacori, Zales, Cartier, Tiffany, and Ritani are some of the most popular names in this category. Designer rings by these successful designers come in many themes and styles so that people belonging to all age groups may select a piece according to their taste and style. These designers also have their online galleries where a wide range of beautiful rings are available in different categories.

Robbins Bros. is a company that specializes in rings for engagements and weddings along with gifts and accessories. They have been in business since the 1920s and have never disappointed their customers. According to them giving a ring to someone is the most meaningful and enchanting way to express one’s love. Keeping this notion in mind they create lovely rings to be exchanged by two people on their engagement who love each other. You will find ring styles such as classic solitaire, ring with sidestones, three stone, and promise rings in this category. Metals like platinum, palladium, white gold and yellow gold are used to suit the requirements of a wide range of customers.

These day, diamonique engagement rings are also very popular.

Tacori is another popular name in the category of designer engagement rings. In addition to ladies’ and men’s weddings bands and rings you will also find bridal accessories and other fine jewelry articles by Tacori. The rings are one-of-a-kind and extremely gorgeous. Each Tacori ring is skillfully handcrafted with the finest of diamonds and high quality metal settings. No wonder their rings last for a lifetime. You can also find matching bracelets, earrings and necklaces at this store. Don’t forget to check out the men’s collection to locate an elegant piece for the man in your life.

When it comes to unique and stunning engagement rings, who can forget the name of Cartier? This French jewelry and watch maker creates lovely rings for engagement in all styles and designs. If you are looking for a luxurious and totally gorgeous ring for your partner, do check out this amazing collection. The promise ring for women by Cartier is exceptional and dazzling. Materials used by Cartier include platinum, yellow gold, white gold, pink gold and tri-gold. The tri-gold wedding and engagement bands can also be selected for men. These rings are complemented with tiny paved diamonds in different colors like pink, yellow and white.

While talking about remarkable and totally elegant engagement rings, the rings by Ritani are worth mentioning. In addition to classy rings for women, you can also find men’s classic, modern and diamond bands at this store. Bezel set diamond rings set in platinum are truly magnificent. You can find various collections by Ritani in the category of rings including Endless Love, Classic, Bella Vita, Modern, and Ritani Setting. If you are looking for a unique and matchless ring, do check out the 18k white gold and diamond .45ctw Ritani logo fashion ring.

How to generate ideas for your bedroom design?

Dear friends,

So, you want to design your bedroom. Hmm… looks like you are
serious about it.

Lets’ get started quickly. whenever I hear someone say he/she
wants to design/decorate a bedroom a lot of things come to my
mind.

But, let me clear one thing, design and decorating are two
different aspects. When I say design, I mean a whole lot bigger
perspective. Design includes a lot more maturity in terms of how
you perceive a space from within.

Of course I will cover more about design in some other article.
Decoration is more close to everyday actions that can be taken
in order to change or alter a space. Decoration deals with
accessories used in a space. Very small things, such as curtain
rods, their color, lampshades, small statues, table cloths,
light fittings, are all parts of the detailing.

It is not that design does not deal with these aspects, but
decoration is more do-able easily than the whole design process.

If you are not aware of the decoration techniques, or where to
start, I will give you a list of some place where you can
observe and get inspiration.

1)Of course, the World Wide Web: this Internet is a good place
to start. But the information on the internet is not always
compiled and sorted out, the way you want it to be, so you might
have to look deep.

2)Local Book stores: Interior design magazines, books, brochures
from furniture manufacturers is a good source of inspiration.
These books and magazines do their best to find out Works of
successful designers, which can be quite inspiring.

3)Exhibitions: Exhibitions held by manufacturers of interior
design products, can be a good source as well.

4)Movies and TV shows: Yes, these have a very high project
budgets, so spend thousands of dollars every year to decorate
the sets. Just keep your eyes open and you will definitely find
some good themes in these too. 5)Look for hobby groups around in
your city, look for seminars of those who are successful
artists. Bedroom decoration includes detailing and paying
attention to small things. Visit art galleries, where you can
find some good paintings, other related artwork, which can
enhance the beauty of your space.

Finally I would like to say that it’s your room and you are the
only person who knows better about your likes and dislikes. So
start out immediately because “When There Is Will, There Is A
Way”. Copyright 2005 Shrinivas Vaidy

Next Page »