New Product Introduction (NPI) Process
The NPI process is a complete blueprint that takes an initial idea through various structured phases and that gives rise to a finished product being launched into the marketplace.
What Is The NPI Process?
The steps involved in the NPI process vary from project to project, but the purpose will be the same: cost down, miscommunication prevention, waste reduction, and more efficient production. Having a proper NPI plan and working with proficient engineers or well-versed contract manufacturers in NPI can result in a successful project.
This process is driven and managed by a cross-functional team that keeps a check on every aspect of the project. The different phases are controlled by approval gates which ensure the project has met specific criteria before moving onto the next phase in the process.
The phases of the NPI process can differ in companies, but they typically follow this outline:
- Product Idea/Definition
- Feasibility Study — Engineering Verification Test (EVT)
- Design and Development — Design Verification Test (DVT)
- Pre-production — Production Verification Test (PVT)
- Manufacturing
- Mass Production (MP)
- Evaluation and Improvement
In each verification test including EVT, DVT, and PVT, there will include IQC, Functional Test, OQC, QTC, and QTR. You might get confused about all these acronyms. Generally, here is the sequence in each verification stage:
- IQC (Incoming Quality Control — components randomly testing)
- PCBA & System Function Test/ Aging
- OQC (Outgoing Quality Control — complete device randomly testing)
- QTC (Quality Test for Compatibility) & QTR (Quality Test for Reliability)
Before the PCBA & System testing, the components of the product will be randomly tested in IQC (Incoming Quality Control). However, during EVT and DVT, all components may be tested because the quantity is not that much at the moment.
Now we come to the functional testing stage. To ensure the PCBA and the complete system meet the product quality and client’s requirements, the manufacturer will implement a sufficient verification in this phase.
After the testing of the PCBA & System, the assembly complete device will be tested randomly (e.g. 5%) in the OQC (Outgoing Quality Control) phase.
Finally, to make sure the software and hardware compatibility and reliability, the assembly complete device will be sent to QTC (Quality Test for Compatibility) and QTR (Quality Test for Reliability) departments after each verification.
Why Is NPI Important As Your First Step In The Development?
The NPI process benefits the constant effective communication to ensure everyone is on the same page and makes sure all members are hitting the deadlines. Moreover, using NPI can bring other significant advantages as the following:
- Fast time to market: You will move from one development step to the next seamlessly, without hesitating to make sure the team is ready to move on.
- Lower costs: Your team will just utilize valuable resources on necessary prototypes. Preventing redesigns will help you save more budgets for sure.
- Higher quality products: The issues or bugs will be likely found by various departments across the whole NPI team, which will ensure that the product meets the client’s specifications as completely as it can.
- Manufacturing Optimization: Since the manufacturer has participated in the project from the beginning, guiding on how to build a product on a small or even a bigger scale, which will result in much smoother manufacturing.
Undoubtedly, NPI will be an ideal approach to get your initial concept of a product to market because you will have the professionals to correct you on how to create a product at each stage.
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