Howard Wright - Designing and tooling for efficient low volume manufacture in a competitive...

Designing and tooling for efficient low volume

manufacture in a competitive environment

Anthony Batley - Howard Wright Limited R&D Manager

Successful Product Development Seminar – 25/09/2013

How do we compete against tough

international competition in NZ &

Australia?


Asking questions & finding out what the problems are


• Research in our chosen markets and find out what our end users need.

• Let our end users tell us what they need in a product and what is important to them.

• Observe end users working with our products and look to find insights into how we can

make their jobs more efficient and safer.


Observation & insight

• New Zealand clinicians are innovative and come up with interesting ways to modify

existing equipment to make it work for them.

• Observing and questioning the status quo instead of just listening to people is a

great way to uncover insights.

Passionate people


• We like to build relationships with people who are passionate about making care

easier and invite them to join us in the design journey.

• We work closely with big customers; combine their knowledge with our know-how

right through the development from start to finish.

Rapid prototyping


• It is important for us to spend time in the workshop prototyping and testing ideas

and sometimes inviting end users in to see what they think and provide feedback on

the designs.

Full scale mock-ups


• Because of the size of our products it is quick and easy to build full scale mock-ups

to see a design evolve.

• Using mock ups is often easier to convey ideas than a through a sketch and it helps

get buy in from others in the company and build interest as a design takes shape.

CAD modelling


• CAD software is useful for detail design and ensuring everything will fit together

properly.

• It is also good for renders to understand what the finished product may look like.

Unique differentiator


• This is a photograph of a final design showing the products biggest unique feature –

the ability for clinicians to use a C-Arm image intensifier while a patient remains in

the bed.

• It is always an advantage for a product to have several unique differentiators when

facing stiff competition especially when all products in the race are of a similar price.

Insights realised


• The final design with a number of insights realised in one product.

Customisation – good but bad ……. but good


• In 2004 we had around 70 variations of the M6 ward bed which were all very similar

and made on a very basic production line.

• We were providing a customising service to win business.

• Customising was expensive and slow and made manufacturing complicated with all

of the variations but we did learn a huge amount about what our customers needed

in a product, so working in this customising way wasn’t wasted – in fact it turned out

to be really important for us.

Simple design = simple manufacturing


• In 2005 we worked with a large hospital in Sydney and developed the M7 ward bed

– one bed which encompassed all of our learning’s which was really simple, quick

and easy to make.

Modular design

M7 ward bed M7 trauma stretcher M7 transport stretcher

M7 examination couch M9 ward bed


• The M7 has been a reliable platform for us and has formed the basis for many new

models using many of the same parts and manufacturing methods.

• Not only easy for end users but easy for our production team as they are familiar

with the components and all of the products fit together in a similar way.

Brand and Design Values

Simple Practical, Pure, Straightforward, Visual, Familiar

Smart Innovative, Elegant, Responsive, Knowledgeable, Insightful

Human Intuitive, Empathetic, Reliable, Respectful, Honest


• During the development of the M7 range our own unique design language evolved.

• It is based around what our customer’s valued and what we believe in.

• Having a design language is important as it means that all of our products have a

very similar look and feel about them and everything is consistent.

Friendly faces


• Being close to our markets means we can be close to our customers.

• Customers expect durable reliable products but also appreciate outstanding

customer service and technical support.

Labour saving plant and equipment


• Using robots for welding has greatly improved welding output.

• One of the main advantages of robot welding is consistency with less

finishing required.

• Robots are suitable for higher volume but can still be flexible - welding jigs

can be quickly and easily interchanged so that different products can be

made using the same robot.

Identifying and reducing waste


• Value stream mapping - mapping out all steps from quoting, ordering,

manufacturing, despatch and delivery, finding non-value adding activities and

finding ways to eliminate them.

Summary

• Work closely with our customers.

• Work closely with our suppliers.

• Use technology appropriate for our volume.

• Work hard to maintain consistency and attention to detail.

• Maintain empathy with all end users and hold true to our brand promise.


Howard Wright - Designing and tooling for efficient low volume manufacture in a competitive...

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