I don’t have a job that requires breaking things just to see when they break. I have to admit, it sounds kind of awesome. Since I enjoy things that are awesome, I recently went to our Engineering Department to see why breaking things is one of the keys to designing a quality product.
The Product Development Process is one of the key components to the overall Premier Mounts experience. It’s the process through which Questions design Answers, and Challenges become the source of Solutions. The concept for a new mounting solution is usually formed in one of two ways:
- An observed market need. When one of our team members recognizes an opportunity to support the AV market in a new way, they bring the idea to our Product Development Team.
- A customer request. Customers may submit product requests for a new mounting solution, whether dedicated to a specific project or as a universal need. This request is also brought to the Product Development Team, and may develop into a project-specific solution or a stock design.
Once a request to satisfy a market or customer need is made, the Product Development Team performs market research to determine why the solution is necessary, which applications it may serve, and what additional features to include. All of this information is then brought to the Engineering Team, whose task it is to design, build, and test the prototype.
The Engineers first create a concept drawing to bring together all of the product requirements, after which they use their Design and Testing Lab to fabricate a prototype and begin the testing process. Testing on each prototype varies, depending on the type of product and its intended application. Each product is tested in accordance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, with 4 times the weight rating in order to ensure that it delivers the safest and most durable mounting solution possible. Prototypes are mounted to the intended surface it was designed, such as the wall, ceiling, or floor, and the Load Test Equipment applies force from a variety of angles using mechanical pressure. You don’t win anything if the prototype breaks or bends, although mad props are earned if you manage to damage one of our durable mounting solutions during this “Hulk Smash” scenario. In the event of a weight overload (see: splitting metal and flying screws), the machine uses safety glass and metal chains to provide optimal protection.
Once lab testing is completed on the new product, the prototype is sent into the field for final testing and customer feedback. This is a pivotal part of the design process, because we’re able to use our partner relationships to maximize our product capabilities. By asking our partners to trial our prototypes in the real world as they’ll be intended for future use, we’re able to confirm that the design fills each possible market need, in addition to opening the line of communication for feedback on product optimization. Once field trials are completed, the prototype is returned to Premier Mounts to begin the manufacturing process, from which it is released to the public as a stock, partially-custom, or fully-custom solution.
By observing and inquiring about our client’s pain points, we’re able to determine which aspects of their projects we can help simplify. We know that our customers are busy with their own enterprise ideas, without the time or the means to devise new tools for mounting solutions that will increase their ROI. Our team of experts has the experience to know what’s possible so that we can provide solutions to challenges that might have otherwise been seen as inevitable. We’re changing the way we do business so that we can recognize our customer’s pain points from the front lines, allowing us to help you succeed.
Interested in collaborating with us on ways to improve your business using our Premier Mounts solutions? Contact our Customer Care Department at (877) 668-6830, or email customercare@mounts.com.
The post The Product Development Process: One Part Bruce Banner, One Part Incredible Hulk appeared first on Blog.
