1. Why do new products fail? Pick an example of a product and a service that have failed, and discuss the reasons for their failure.

5. Provide examples of products in each of the following categories that are in different stages of their life cycles:

Televisions

Computers

Pharmaceuticals

Entertainment

7. Name a product or company you believe uses the following new product development concepts or tools:

Robust design

Mass customization

Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA)

Quality function deployment (QFD)

Computer-aided design (CAD)

The future poses a serious challenge for automotive designers as they try to comply with federal fuel efficiency guidelines. After rising just 10 miles per gallon (mpg) in the past 30 years, U.S. fuel economy regulations are in the midst of a serious upward adjustment. By 2025, the average new vehicle is required to get 54.5 mpgdouble the 2012 requirement of 27.3 mpg. In practical terms, that means that fuel economy is expected to increase by more than 2 mpg per year for the next decade. This dramatic increase makes it necessary for all automotive companies to improve fuel efficiency in their current fleet of cars, while looking for ways to get better mileage out of the new cars they design. Some choices the companies are making have been very creative:

Honda's 2012 Civic (Honda Motor Co., Tokyo, Japan) uses specially coated engine pistons that reduce friction. This modification improved fuel efficiency by 2%.

The 2012 Toyota Camry (Toyota Motor Corporation) weighs 150 pounds less than the previous year's model. The lower weight improved mileage.

Chrysler (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) is using a more efficient eight-speed automatic transmission in its 300 sedan model. This improved its highway mileage by 3 mpg.

General Motors is benefiting from a 3-year project to find innovative ways to redesign its Chevrolet Malibu to enhance its fuel efficiency. The challenge was significant because GM did not want to redesign the Malibu completely. Among the ways that GM achieved fuel savings was by using lighter materials. For example, aluminum has replaced steel in the vehicle's hood and rear bumper beam. A new six-speed automatic transmission was installed in place of the car's five-speed shifter. GM also installed a smaller, fuel-injected engine that is more efficient but makes the car feel as if it has more power. To decrease its weight, the Malibu no longer has a spare tire. The tire has been replaced by a much lighter reinflation kit (an air compressor and liquid sealant). Other changes are barely noticeable; for example, the front, rear, and underbody have been redesigned to be more aerodynamic and improve fuel efficiency. The result of all these changes is that the Malibu will get at least 7 more miles per gallon, and a tank of gas will take the vehicle an additional 92 miles.

One way or another, car manufacturers will find ways to wring additional mileage out of their automobiles. With the use of hybrid and electric power options, it is only a matter of time before all cars driven in the United States will be pushing the 50-mpg envelope.48

Questions:

Take a side in agreeing or disagreeing with the following statement: "The push to improve fuel efficiency is likely to cause engineers to pursue increasingly risky and untried technologies, ultimately to the detriment of the consumer."

How does a car company manage to follow efficiency guidelines and maintain an image of quality? That is, are these competing goals, and, if so, how does the company balance them?

Description: This video mini-lecture gives suggestions for developing new products.

LO 4.2: Describe the approaches companies use to develop new products.

Mass Customization

LO 4-6: Describe how the collaboration of the members of a supply chain can improve product development.

Description: This article on "The Eight Essentials of Innovation" provides insight into product development and improvement.

LO 4-1: Explain why new product development is vital for organizations.

Product Life Cycles

LO 4-5: Describe the global product-development process and how it can be used to gain a strategic advantage.

Product Innovations

Description:Use the link below to access the article for the Critical Thinking Activity.