Advantages of employing a product development methodology with particular emphasis to the RTM manufacturing process

When an organisation decides to design a new product, or update an existing one, considerable expenditure is incurred over a period of time before any payback is realised. It is imperative therefore that this period be as short as possible; this is particularly the case for a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) which may not have the resources to fund an extended development period. However, it is also important to ensure that realistic time restraints are allowed so that the finished design meets its specification, is robust in operation and gives customer satisfaction. This paper examines the issues relevant to the design process within SMEs, and considers some of the key areas of a design methodology, with particular emphasis on the resin transfer moulding manufacturing process