IPD (Integrated Product Development) covers the entire process from product ideation to research and development, production, operation, etc., including product development to marketing operations . The management model surrounding the product (or project) life cycle process is a set of production processes, and it is also an internationally advanced management system. IPD (Integrated Product Development) takes product success and user satisfaction as its ultimate goals by building a scientific, sustainable, stable, repeatable, and high-quality management model.
The introduction of the IPD (Integrated Product Development) model can transform the traditional product research and development model into an institutionalized and sustainable launch of successful products that are market competitive and meet customer needs. To cope with fierce market competition and help companies and teams achieve strategic goals. Citing statistical analysis data from the internationally renowned PRTM consulting company, the successful introduction of IPD can bring significant improvements to the company's product development and production:
- Product time to market is shortened by 40%-60%;
- Product development waste is reduced by 50%-80%;
- Product development and production capacity increased by 25%-30%;
- New product revenue (as a percentage of total revenue) increased by 100%.
Through the above data analysis, we can conclude that using the IPD model in the management of the product development process can more comprehensively manage the entire life cycle of product development, make the project development progress more controllable, and achieve rapid adaptation to market changes. Reduce R&D investment, reduce production costs, and improve product quality, making products more stable, reliable and highly adaptable in terms of their characteristics. After the IPD (Integrated Product Development) model is successfully implemented, companies can establish a healthy product development process that is driven by market demand and customer demand.
So what does the full life cycle product development process look like under the IPD (Integrated Product Development) model?
1. Propose product plan
Through market analysis, combined with the company's vision and profit goals, and based on the investigation and analysis of product and technology development, changes in consumer demand and habits and preferences, timely reserves of relevant technologies and R&D capabilities are made. Provide detailed planning for the products that will be promoted in the future. Maintain close communication and communication with loyal users, solicit opinions from customers on products, and simultaneously solicit feedback and suggestions on preliminary product plans or new product feature designs under planning. Through communication and interaction with users, we can better develop products or functions that meet consumer needs.
2. Needs assessment and plan determination
After completing the new product planning plan, the company or team analyzes and evaluates the product market and price positioning, main performance and parameter requirements defined by customer needs, and confirms the product's feasibility and business conditions.
3. Form an IPD (Integrated Product Development) team
After the new product development plan is determined, a cross-departmental IPD (Integrated Product Development) team is formed, mainly including project managers, product managers, engineers, hardware developers, software developers, testers, delivery personnel, financial personnel, etc., and product development begins.
4. Product development stage
Based on user and market needs (sometimes it will also be the party A serving the enterprise/team), and on this basis, comprehensive consideration of the product's function, structure, process and other information, select hardware that meets the product's function and performance requirements. At the same time, the appropriate R&D iterations, story points and R&D team size are determined at the software R&D level, so that the traditional R&D design process is transformed into a parallel IPD (Integrated Product Development) product R&D and design process.
5. Quality control/process management
Quality control/process management of product research and development needs to run through the entire product life cycle. Starting from the R&D and design stage, ensure that the selected materials, components, etc. meet the performance requirements of a product during its life cycle; software design needs to ensure the quality of the software and ensure that it can operate safely and smoothly during its life cycle.
6. Software and hardware integration
Based on the software design selected in the product design plan, and the materials and parameters related to the product hardware design, the IPD (Integrated Product Development) team will conduct corresponding customized development to ensure the adaptation of software and hardware performance. Some key performance parameter requirements require focus and optimization.
7. Product testing Debug
After the product software and hardware R&D design is completed, the testing team in the IPD (Integrated Product Development) team will review and optimize the product hardware design plan, and improve and optimize the plan for various defects initially discovered. The team will conduct trial production of the product. The samples produced from the trial production will be subjected to multiple rounds of comprehensive testing in various aspects such as hardware, software, performance, and quality. Verify the performance of product software and hardware as fully as possible, discover problems and risks in the product development process, and on this basis, continuously improve and correct the R&D plan and optimize the performance of product software and hardware.
8. Acceptance passed
After the product passes testing and debug, it will enter the production process. During the process of product development and testing, the IPD (Integrated Product Development) team will fully communicate with users/Party A's customers on a regular basis to involve them and conduct all aspects of related products. Make recommendations based on comprehensive indicators, and maintain the participation of users/Party A customers in the entire process to ensure that the quality and progress of R&D design plans and customized products meet needs.
9. Product delivery
After the product is formally accepted, the product life cycle enters the stage of continuous mass production and delivery. The IPD (Integrated Product Development) team needs to maintain close communication with marketing/Party A customers, understand the terminal sales of the product, and collect real user feedback data. Organize the procurement of product-related production materials in advance in order to reasonably coordinate and arrange the company's production resources to ensure that products can be delivered at the pace and quantity required by market demand/Party A's customer needs.
10. Follow-up service
After the product is launched, the IPD (Integrated Product Development) team needs to continue to pay attention to the product quality during the sales process of the product. When products have R&D defects or quality issues, follow up and resolve them in a timely manner.
11. Complete life cycle
The IPD (Integrated Product Development) team needs to track and service the product projects developed throughout the life cycle, initiate project review, and complete the final internal review and acceptance of the project. In view of the mistakes made during the project operation, the experience and lessons were summarized and relevant internal case materials were formed as cases for subsequent internal training and personnel training of IPD (Integrated Product Development).
Summarize
IPD (Integrated Product Development) covers the management of the process of technological innovation from product concept to the end of the life cycle, emphasizing market demand as the driving force for product development. It includes market management, demand management and product development, and technology development. Business Process .
The IPD (Integrated Product Development) model is based on the perspective of the market and customers, using demand-driven planning and product development. The core members of its management system are cross-border personnel composed of people from marketing, R&D, testing, procurement, manufacturing, service, etc. Department teams work together to promote and manage the entire IPD product planning and R&D development process.
A large amount of data and practice have concluded that the implementation of IPD (Integrated Product Development) can improve corporate benefits, reduce production and research costs, improve product development efficiency, enhance corporate and team product development capabilities, and ultimately improve corporate independent R&D and innovation capabilities. However, whether the implementation of IPD (Integrated Product Development) projects can achieve the expected results is restricted by the company's project management capabilities. Companies and teams need to evaluate their own actual situations and choose a model and path suitable for their own development.