Integration of Life Cycle Thinking within Research & Development
A case study of five NZ companies
Jake McLaren, Timothy Allan, Anthony Hume, Sarah McLaren
Research & Development Research Question
What are the enablers and barriers to
integrating environmental aspects into the
research and development of new products/ services?
Research methodology
• Visited companies• Interviewed staff• Reviewed documents
• Identified all enablers and barriers (factors)• Ranked factors as enablers or barriers for each company• Grouped into overall themes• Ranked each factor for relative importance compared
with other factors
Groups of enablers and barriers
• Culture and Values
• Market and Marketing Communication
• Business Capability and Processes
• Life Cycle Knowledge and Data
• Supply Chain
• Technical Factors
Verda: Mission Statement
Verda’s outdoor design embraces nature in your own place making a better world for generations to come
PD PROCESS 18 JUNE, 2009
Comvita PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
SCOPING
• Scope opportunities
• Evaluate and screen ideas
• Market analysis
• Confirming feasibility
> CREATE PD BRIEF
INITIATION
• Planning the project
• Building the business case
• Communicating cost and timelines
• In-depth technical assessment
• Firming up relationships with suppliers
DEVELOPMENT
• Converting idea to reality
• Formulation development
• Defining packaging design
• Prepare for scale up
• Product testing
• Assessing efficacy
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Creation of artwork
PRODUCTION
• Products is set up in system
• Preparation for bulk manufacture
• Packaging manufacturing
• Finished product manufacturing
LAUNCH TO MARKETS
MARKETING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
VerdaDesign Process
• Product development chute– Insight
• Sustainability trends in key markets• Needs and wants of consumers• Consumer trends and demographics• Competing products and brands• Emerging technologies (production, environmental, transformational)
– Idea generation• Modification of existing products• Brainstorming new product options• Literature review
– Concept development• Concept design• Initial market assessment• Sustainability assessment
VerdaDesign Process
• Product development chute
– Prototype and testing• Prototyping• Field testing• Performance testing (special tests for compliance)
– Design resolution• Confirm design• Confirm sustainability attributes
– Linking to Brand• Conformity to brand values
– Review• Outcomes of sustainability attributes on business profitability
Supply Chain
• Ability to change
• Availability of preferable materials in NZ
• Scale and influence to control
Technical Factors• Technology development • Distance to/from market and transport• Manufacturing• End-of-life management
Groups of enablers and barriers
• Culture and Values
• Market and Marketing Communication
• Business Capability and Processes
• Life Cycle Knowledge and Data
• Supply Chain
• Technical Factors
SummarySuccessful LCM implementation in R&D
depends on:
• Shared values & team ownership• Communication to the market (even if not asking today)
• Structured design and development processes• Understanding product life cycle environmental
issues and integration of life cycle thinking into daily R&D working practices
• Ability to change supply chain and• other relevant technical / environmental issues, eg.
manufacturing, transport, end-of-life.