Product design and development of novel technology-based products

Abstract

As products keep incorporating more technology, with a strong emphasis on microelectronics, it becomes obvious that improvements to traditional product design and development (PDD) processes are required. Incorporating microelectronics in products, without the user being able to perceive them, while simultaneously ensuring their functionality, is not a trivial task. This is the case of RFID electronic traceability technology. The physical characteristics of RFID microelectronic devices, associated to the large variety of products and environments to which they are submitted, still limit the use of these technologies. In many cases, the microelectronic devices cannot simply be placed directly in the product. To solve that problem, the devices can be embedded in an add-on product that couples to the already existing product. In this framework, we describe a case study of surgical instruments, in which the RFID tag cannot simply be embedded. We propose a methodology that to tackle this problem and we describe how it can be applied to design solution concepts. Prototype parts, that include an embedded RFID tag, were manufactured and are currently being subjected to usability tests. These tests will be a key factor for concept selection. This work sets a first step towards a revised methodology for the design of the type of add-on products described, and opens the path for the optimization of product design and development processes to meet the needs of novel technology-based products.