From Ideation to Installation: The Journey of a Product

When a manufacturer develops a product, Architects and Engineers will naturally specify it and it will be installed on-site. Right?

Not necessarily.

A product’s journey from selection to installation is akin to the life of us humans, we grow to an age of perceived maturity, fumble hopelessly trying to attract a mate, and then constantly overcome obstacles to secure and maintain meaningful relationships.

Below we outline the steps and challenges products face from ideation to installation, and perhaps you can relate some of these situations to your own life.

From a Thought to Reality – Step 1

Product designers and manufacturers dream up amazing new product ideas every day.

We will leave the details to the experts to outline how a product goes from an idea to the shelf but know that a long process has been undertaken before anyone even sees a new product.

• That process could follow a pathway starting from ideation to market research, to concept development, to business case, to prototypes, to testing, to regulatory approval, to pilot production, to product launch, to monitoring and evolution.

It’s like that awkward period of our lives, we were lucky enough to be born, and now consider ourselves old enough to enter the dating pool – good luck junior!

From Obscurity to Maturity – Step 2

Congratulations, the product is now available, but there are key factors Architects and Engineers consider prior to specifying products (or advancing past the first date):

1. Key Considerations:

• Aesthetics: Does the product meet the desired aesthetics? – Does it look good?
• Performance: Does the product satisfy the performance requirements outlined in the Project brief? – Does it work well?
• Budget: Does the product fit the budget? – Can we afford it?
• Compliance: Has the product been tested and certified to meet required standards? – Is it safe?
• Lead times: Do the lead times fit the project programme? – How quickly can we get it?
• Sustainability: Does the product achieve the sustainability aspirations? – Where’s it made and what’s it made from?
• Application: Is the product suitable for this application and has it been used previously? – Can we use it here?
• Buildability: Can this product interface with the surrounding materials? – How easy is it to install?
• Customer service: How smooth is the sales process and what after-sales service do you provide? – Do we like and trust you and your company?
• Warranties: What warranty periods are available in this application? How long do you last? (Sound familiar…)

Similar to your first date. You felt like a baby giraffe learning to walk, but was there a spark?

Were they satisfied with your prospects?

You’ve done well because you passed and advanced into a relationship status – for now.

From Specification to Acceptance – Step 3

The product has been specified! We’re going to get married! Life is good, no, it’s better than good, it’s amazing.

But what may initially feel like the blossoming of a long-term relationship is really a set of trials and tribulations to prove yourself worthy.

Below is the process requested within a specification prior to product installation. Each of these steps are to be undertaken before progressing to the next:

1. Samples:

• Submit a series of samples in a particular size showing any aesthetic variations.
• Samples are kept on-site in duplicate to ensure the products delivered still achieve the design and performance intent.
• These samples must receive acceptance prior to placing the order.

2. Supporting Documentation:

Provide a myriad of supporting documentation such as:

• Product data sheets, installation guidelines and safety data sheets.
• Performance metrics.
• Testing regime and results.
• Certification of applicable building standards.
• Sustainability credentials.
• Origin and supply chain.
• Deleterious material content.

3. Sample panels:

• For batched products such as tiles, provide sample panels in larger format e.g. 1000mm x 1000mm which indicates how the products appear when grouped together.
• Alternatively for tiles, a trial set-out (dry lay) may also be required.

4. Shop Drawings:

• Submit Shop drawings of the specified product. This provides detailed 2D and often 3D representations of the product’s fabrication and installation in relation to the surrounding interfaces.
• The Shop drawings undergo a review and updating process until accepted and stamped as such.

5. Mock-ups:

• For products that require modification or form part of a system, mock-ups may be required to demonstrate the design intent, but not necessarily using the actual materials.
• These provide a visual representation to further clarify the finished installation.

6. Prototypes:

• Prototypes may be required for complex or high-risk product installations, which are constructed from the specified materials and finishes, and fully tested to address both aesthetic and performance requirements.
• These provide technical and visual representations.

7. Product Testing:

• If the product does not have prior testing certificates to demonstrate compliance with the project’s performance requirements, regulatory bodies and building standards specified, further product testing is to be undertaken to satisfy these requirements, prior to installation.

Reaching this point of the relationship is like getting engaged, you’re trustworthy and haven’t strayed, perhaps had a number of disagreements, offers have been accepted and promises made, some money has exchanged hands, and as long as you don’t royally mess it up, you’re now spoken for.

Click here for a detailed specification explanation.

From Acceptance to Installation – Step 4

This is the moment.

It’s the big day, all the planning and work lead you to this point. Once you say “I do” then that’s it right?

Wrong.

Specifications (like wedding arrangements) have procedural requirements that are to be followed.

You’re not going to eat the wedding cake before the ceremony, are you?

1. Inspection points:

• These are ‘hold’ or ‘witness’ points. Meaning before you dive in and install the product, surrounding surfaces are reviewed, delivered products are inspected for quality, damage and consistency with the previously submitted samples, and declarations are made on the suitability of the substrate to ensure the product installation is warrantable.

2. Quality Benchmarks:

• Now we’re talking. The first installation is complete.
• Don’t go ahead and install all your products though, the first installation needs to be accepted before you move on. Once it has been reviewed and accepted, this first installation will serve as the quality benchmark for all subsequent installations.
• This means all installations will be compared with the first to ensure consistency.

3. On-site Testing:

• The product may have had prior type-testing to demonstrate material compliance with fabrication and performance standards, but it also needs to be tested in situ, to demonstrate real-life applicability.
• This could be slip resistance testing for floor surfaces, flood testing for waterproof membranes, adhesion tests for tiles, site hose testing for facades, or thermal imaging for insulation.

4. Commissioning:

• For mechanical or hydraulic product installations, commissioning is required to calibrate the systems and ensure efficiency of use.

5. Warranties:

• This is when you say – ‘Till death do us part’, or more accurately, ‘minimum 5 years’.
• Warranties must be issued by the product manufacturer/ supplier as well as the installer, for a nominated period meaning if the product is defective or prematurely degrades it will be repaired/ replaced under a set of terms with the project owner as the beneficiary.

5. Certification:

• It’s time to sign the wedding certificate. You have undertaken your obligations and it’s time to put it all in writing.
• Here you provide unequivocal declarations certifying that the product and installation is in accordance with the contract documents.
• That means a divorce will be expensive.

6. Operation and Maintenance Manual:

• This is where you outline how to keep your spouse happy – perhaps it’s weekly flowers, or the simple agreement that you need to remain clean, or might occasionally need replacement parts as you age, or who to call when you need support.

The Honeymoon Period – Step 5

This should be the honeymoon period for the product beneficiary, and the product manufacturer and installer if done well.

1. Keep your buyer happy:

• You’ve done so much hard work, so provide exemplary after-sales service because we all know repeat business is much easier than new business.

2. Celebrate and review:

• Celebrate your win, but more importantly review what worked and what needs improvement.

Life, Death and Circularity – Step 6

We can’t stop the ageing process – like our hair colour, coatings fade too!

Nothing lasts forever and products have a design life. It’s up to the product beneficiary, whether that’s the existing or new beneficiary of an asset, to determine the outcome when dealing with redundant products.

Can a circular economy principle be adopted – recycle, reuse, or repurpose?

The Missing Detail – Substitutions

There’s a HUGE part of the story not covered yet.

That’s right, even if you had an amazing first few dates with your target audience, and were specified, you may not win their heart.

Products (and people) get substituted all the time, sometimes for the right reasons, sometimes for the wrong reason, these could be:

• There is a previous relationship in place.
• Cheaper alternative.
• Lower maintenance.
• Greater availability.
• Or a host of others.

Conclusion:

In summary, the journey of a product from creation to installation and beyond shares many themes with our own lifecycle.

So, next time you see a product, remember the challenges it overcame and the value of relationships that were garnered along the way.Each product tells a story of dreams, passions, determination, and dedication. Embrace the journey, cherish the process, and celebrate the destination.

Are you concerned the products specified on your project won’t be installed? Our dedicated team of Specification Consultants produce the best-in-class content to protect your design intent and make your life easier, and utilise a digital cloud-based product database that links with your model….

So reach out to us, and let’s improve the natural and built environment with every project together.

www.earlymark.com

Engage with Us:

Does this product journey resonate with your life experiences? Share your experience in the comments below.