42 Technology`s experienced engineers, technologists and designers have a reputation for delivering solutions at any stage of the product development cycle. We help with technology strategy, innovation management, researching markets to define customer and other stakeholder needs, concept creation, analysis, development, testing, detail design, right through to the procurement of tooling, achieving regulatory approval and helping with integration into manufacture.
Our prime motivation is to see products that we have designed, in production and being bought by satisfied customers. Our team has an impressive track record and we are motivated to help you!
INNOVATION MANAGEMENT IN THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Many companies become incremental in their thinking as they get big. They become risk-averse and hierarchical. But in an era when investors insist on a fast growth in shareholder value, such companies have to learn how to find large, valuable opportunities and realise them quickly, but at low risk.
We have a well-established process to help companies find new ideas and exploit them.
DEFINING STAKEHOLDER NEEDS IN THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Before concept creation can start it is important to understand and define the needs of all the people who will interact with the product during its life. This includes manufacturing, distribution chain, end customer, installation, maintenance, and final disposal.
We can help you to define all these requirements. We commission market research and focus groups to understand customer needs; we interview other stakeholders and draw up detailed requirements specifications. We can also guide you through approvals including, for healthcare products, compliance with FDA.
CONCEPT CREATION IN THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
We work with clients on a broad spectrum of new products, and have developed tools and techniques to create, test and refine ideas. We build and test proof of principle models for evaluation both technically and in the market place.
Our process is focused and successful, and we are proud of the number of novel products, we have developed, that are currently being sold by our clients.
By combining key stakeholders from all aspects of your business, with the creative minds of 42 Technology, inspiration can be coupled with experience and pragmatism to create world-beating new products.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN IN THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
To be successful, products must look and feel good as well as performing well. Good ergonomic design to ensure ease of use is essential.
Good industrial design can give products the differentiation they need in order to gain a competitive edge in the market. However, products have to be manufacturable at an acceptable cost and be reliable and efficient in use. We achieve these goals by having engineers and industrial designers working side by side using similar tools and techniques. This way we achieve seamless industrial design.
At 42 Technology, we work with our designers – and yours – to create practical, exciting designs to raise your product above the level of your competitors.
MODELLING AND ANALYSIS IN THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Novel product development means that we are often working in areas that are not well understood, and that cannot be easily tested by experimentation.
42 Technology has skills and access to a number of modelling and analysis tools which bridge the gap in understanding. These include stress analysis and motion control. These tools have been successfully applied to products as diverse as telephone connectors, road sweepers and large-scale industrial gearboxes.
Use the 42 Technology structural analysis service to:
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Increase strength – put material where you need it
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Reduce weight – remove material where you don`t need it
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Reduce material costs and cycle times
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Reduce prototyping costs and timescales
In real life examples, weight savings of up to 50% have been achieved, with increased design loads also up by 50% – all without having to build a single prototype to test.
Design for Manufacture for Product Development
At 42 Technology we provide solutions that take into account your manufacturing needs.
Whatever the project – whether it`s millions of units per year or bespoke products – we design for manufacture from the early stages of the design cycle. Recognition of manufacturing issues throughout the project ensures we achieve minimum-cost solutions.
Our engineers have gained valuable experience in industry, enabling them to design products with the confidence that the transition from concept to production will be as smooth as possible.
42 Technology is able to work with your preferred manufacturer, or offer guidance in finding suitable partners to manufacture your products.
Quality Management Systems for Product Development
42 Technology can provide practical assistance in the development and improvement of Quality Management Systems compliant with international standards such as ISO9000, ISO13485, and US FDA cGMP requirements.
We believe strongly in putting systems in place that are simple, user friendly and focused on true quality objectives – improving customer satisfaction and reducing waste.
Whether it is providing an impartial external audit, implementing corrective action programs in response to known problems, or simplification of over-complex systems which are not satisfying business needs, we can work constructively with your team to make valuable improvements.
Regulatory Approval for Product Development
We can help with CE marking and other regulatory approvals, particularly for electronic systems.
In the field of Medical Devices, we offer assistance with the preparation of US (PMA, 510(k)) and European regulatory submissions.
Our engineers are also experienced in leading practical risk analysis and process validation activities.
