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Our company designs and manufactures computers and software. Although we do some semi-custom work for customers, most of our standard advertised products are designed from a "concept" developed by the head of our company (who is also an engineer). His concepts come from some general industry research, but mostly "gut feelings" about what the customer needs. It has proven successful to date.
Two questions here: 1) How do we identify the customer's requirements for these standard products? We do develop a marketing specification for each product with performance and reliability requirements. I am being told that "Marketing" is the customer in this case and that it should be designed and manufactured to meet Marketing's requirements.
2) Will this fly with ISO? Shouldn't we be defining and documenting the end user's needs? What is the consequence (with respect to the new standard) of not having a solid market-research program in place? How do you document "gut feelings?"
Katy (smack dab in the middle of ISO transition).
Two questions here: 1) How do we identify the customer's requirements for these standard products? We do develop a marketing specification for each product with performance and reliability requirements. I am being told that "Marketing" is the customer in this case and that it should be designed and manufactured to meet Marketing's requirements.
2) Will this fly with ISO? Shouldn't we be defining and documenting the end user's needs? What is the consequence (with respect to the new standard) of not having a solid market-research program in place? How do you document "gut feelings?"
Katy (smack dab in the middle of ISO transition).