The New Product Introduction (NPI) process is a framework for taking a new product from design to manufacturing through a series of structured phases. The goal of the process is producing a functional, reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective product.
The NPI process is not a standard that is set-in-stone, but more of a general pattern. The implementation and interpretation of the process and its stages varies from company to company. We learned the NPI process at Apple, which certainly colors our interpretation of the process. You will find descriptions of the process similar to ours from other ex-Apple engineers, such as Anna-Katrina Shedletsky of Instrumental.
Stages
- Product Requirements Specification (also called the Product Requirements Document)
- Proto
- EVT
- DVT
- PVT
- Ramp
- Mass Production
References
- Arena: Best Practices for New Product Introduction (pdf)
- Hardware engineers speak in code: EVT, DVT, PVT decoded – Instrumental by Anna-Katrina Shedlestksy
Synonyms:
New Product Development, NPD, New Product Introduction, NPI
Categories: Field Atlas
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