The American Productivity & Quality Center study identified specific sources that tend to be good idea ......... for new product development, including market research, focus groups, third-party/inventor input, and brainstorming.

The concept development phase requires a more formal review and planning process that ensures the concepts are technically feasible, will make a ......... product, and will allow the organization to make a profit.

At this point, an executive review generally approves the product for design and additional resource ..........

The product and process design stage involves turning the concept into a tangible product design and transforming that design into ......... prototype or pilot.

Prototypes or pilots allow the designers to test and ......... the ability of the product or service to perform as originally expected.

At this stage, to change the original product ........., some form of approval is required.

This approval can range from upper management review to individual functional area review to team ..........

Once the final design is finalized and approved, the product is ......... into production.

A .........-up period normally is required before full production can begin.

A quality assurance group within each business unit is responsible for verifying that the product and each manufacturing site meets the required ..........