11.2.1 Challenges in the application of systems engineering principles to the design of appealing consumer products

This paper reports results of research carried out in the context of a co-ordination action funded by the European Commission that dealt with the gathering and evaluation of state of the art tools, best practice methods and techniques deployed by leading manufacturers in developing appealing consumer products. Data was gathered through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data showed that the design of appealing products involves an intricate web of relationships amongst understanding consumer needs, determining and verifying product characteristics, and validating products that excite consumers. The need for a systems engineering approach in rationalising such an intricate web of relationships is described based on the research findings. A number of challenges associated with the implementation of such an approach are discussed.