| Popis: |
The product design and engineering by companies, especially SMEs (small and medium enterprises), is a key competitive factor. The Brazilian industrial sector lacks a systematic approach that integrates different variables required by the market in order to help determine product excellence. It is a way to reduce the economic differences between regions in the country. This paper brings a contribution to this goal, presenting the development process and first results of an Integrated Laboratory for Product Design (LIDEP). The LIDEP works through a multidisciplinary and systemic approach, developing new products from existing demand and transferring technologies on design methodology, prototyping and design management to local SMEs and educational institutions. The LIDEP initiative is developed in Montes Claros, an important city in the northern of Minas Gerais state, providing competitive conditions to local SMEs by adding significant value to products by making use of systemic design, market analysis and leveraging technical regulations. |
