Manufacturing has lots to learn from design techniques

In reply to Neil Patrick Keegan’s letter (DW 10 March), I would agree that further discussion of in-house design is as important as the promotion of consultancy work issues.

If we are to promote design within the core of the manufacturing industry we need to provide a holistic view of design, illustrating its value at all levels of the product creation process.

Over the past ten years I have been fortunate enough to work with a range of in-house design teams with the aim of increasing production efficiency and improving quality within product ranges. The projects were obviously beneficial to the continuing success of the businesses involved.

It would appear that consultancies and in-house design teams need to be used together as strategic tools, in providing long-term success within the heart of the companies’ strategies.

The application of design management techniques has aided the fusion of these design activities and furthered their popularity within the manufacturing sector.

This has provided excellent case studies which Government agencies such as the Design Council and small business services can use in the promotion of applications of design.

If manufacturing is to adopt design thinking as central to its development, we need to provide unbiased environments, to allow debate that centres on the interface of consultancy, in-house design and manufacturing. Is there anybody willing to host such a debate?

Richard Holt

HND Product Design and Manufacture

Somerset College of Arts and Technology.

Rh@somerset.ac.uk

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