Q1. In what ways is product strategy linked to product decisions?

Q2. Once a product is defined, what documents are used to assist production personnel in its manufacture?

Q3. Explain what is meant by robust design.

Q4. Explain how the house of quality translates customer desires into product/service attributes.

Q5. Research and briefly describe the Delphi technique. How would it be used by an employer you have worked for?

Case study

CEO John Goodale, at Southern Illinois Power and Light, has been collecting data on demand for electric power in its western sub-region for only the past 2 years. Those data are shown in the table below.

To plan for expansion and to arrange to borrow power from neighboring utilities during peak periods, Goodale needs to be able to forecast demand for each month next year. However, the standard forecasting models discussed in this chapter will not fit the data observed for the 2 years.

Q6a. What are the weaknesses of the standard forecasting techniques as applied to this set of data?

Q6b. Because known models are not appropriate here, propose your own approach to forecasting. Although there is no perfect solution to tackling data such as these (in other words, there are no 100% right or wrong answers), justify your model.

Q6c. Forecast demand for each month next year using the model you proposeIwaysn what is product strategy linked to product decisions