A Study of the Product Development Process for the Stackable Shelf, Stool, and Table

Huggins, Harleigh Elizabeth (2018) A Study of the Product Development Process for the Stackable Shelf, Stool, and Table. Undergraduate thesis, under the direction of Jack McClurg from Mechanical Engineering, The University of Mississippi.

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Abstract

The purpose of this project was to create a viable furniture product by utilizing the various phases of the product development process. The project began in Phase 0 with market research, formulation of an initial idea, and a product pitch to an “executive” board to check the viability of the idea. Then, the idea was developed into a concept with Phase 1 by finalizing an initial concept and looking into the potential customer. Next, the product concept was prototyped through several iterations of trial and error in Phase 2. By Phase 3, the product design was finalized, and an initial costing estimate and production process layout was generated. Lastly, production trials began in Phase 4. Various production layouts and process flows were designed, implemented, and studied until an optimal layout and process flow was achieved based on an assigned customer demand. Though production ramp-up, Phase 5, was not fully carried out, future considerations for the product as well as important conclusions from the product development process were considered instead. An important conclusion of the project was the merits of lean manufacturing and the importance of the product development process when designing a new product.

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