8.9 SUMMARY OF THE BOOK

This book is only an introduction, a bird’s eye view of product development.

The aim was to show someone coming into food product development the Product Development Process and the aims, activities, outcomes and decisions as the product development project moves through the Process.

Some notable points to remember are:

      Companies must set long term goals for product development and aims
      for individual PD projects.

      A systematic Product Development Process increases the likelihood
      of product success.

      The generic Product Development Process of four stages -
      product strategy, product design and process development,
      product commercialisation, product launch and post-launch
      evaluation – can be adapted for different levels of innovation;
      consumer, industrial and food service product development; and
      tailored to company resources.

      Technological knowledge of product, production, distribution and
      marketing is the basis of product development.

      Consumers’ needs, wants, attitudes, behaviour and
      ergonomic requirements are studied at the beginning and throughout
      the product design process.

      Product design and process development need to be integrated in
      the product design process.

      Product commercialisation needs to be effective in launching the
      optimum product and efficient in controlling costs and time.

      Product commercialisation is not technology transfer but
      technology integration.

      Coordination of the product, marketing and processing
      technologies throughout the project is essential.