Development work is the work of a research team whose ultimate goal is to obtain a product (explanatory note and a set of drawings, as well as other documentation). The designated goal is the main, but not the only one. Research and development may be funded from various sources. This article will examine the existing types and features of such work.
The essence of scientific work
There is no established definition of development work. This concept can be interpreted in different ways. In most sources of literature, it is understood as a particular type of investment activity. Manufacturing companies seek to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of their products to consumers. But to do this is quite difficult. Any change in product design must be approved by qualified industry professionals and scientists. This is the only way to minimize the likely risks of accidents and other emergencies.
Research and development work can also be aimed not at improving existing technologies, but at creating new, fundamentally new and breakthrough things.
Industrial giants are investing huge amounts of money in technology. Depending on the management policy, research and development may take from one to several percent of the company's profits. Thus, a significant amount of money is being spent on research and development. However, there is no guarantee that these costs will pay off, and the research team will be able to develop something really worthwhile.
Managers seek to use such significant funds more efficiently and maximize the benefits of development work. This is not always possible to do, and there are a number of reasons.
Development Goals
It is obvious that the company, financing the activities of research laboratories and organizations, expects to receive returns in the form of increased profits. But making a profit is too general a measure. It is necessary to make specifics. Such investment activities can be aimed at making profit and return both in the near and in the very distant future.
As urgent (immediate goals), there is a need for the development and development of a new production technology and a new product. Their development must be carried out as soon as possible in order to have time to satisfy the needs of customers, until competitors have done so. In this case, the type of production of the developed product may be different: from single and small-scale to mass.
The catalyst for the process, or the stimulus, can serve as completely different events. For example, ordering on attractive terms from a large organization. Mainly in the role of such customers are large government agencies. In Russia, these are the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergencies and other departments. It should be said that the share of research and development work carried out on such special orders in the global volume is quite low. At the same time, for a particular scientific organization, such orders can bring the main income.
A much larger volume of experimental design and technological work of the company is carried out independently. To do this, the staff on a regular basis are scientific employees. This allows organizations to keep up with global trends and scientific discoveries and to keep their finger on the pulse. This is the only way to maintain demand for products and maintain your market segment. In the event that the company will produce obsolete product samples, it will inevitably expect bankruptcy. The consumer is willing to overpay, but he wants to be the owner of modern goods.
Often, after the product enters the market and the beginning of its active operation, certain shortcomings pop up. This happens all the time. And this despite the many stages of control and testing of products. To eliminate the problems that have arisen, it is often also necessary to conduct scientific research and conclude a contract for the implementation of experimental design work. Modern history is full of cases when large concerns recalled an impressive consignment of goods shipped to consumers to eliminate detected "bugs".
The stages of development and technological work
In accordance with generally accepted standards, research and development work consists of the following steps:
- development of technical specifications;
- creation of a preliminary design;
- technical project implementation;
- implementation of a working draft;
- formation of a package of design documentation;
- creation of a report on the research and the provision of samples;
- search for patent information and checking the purity of the result.
It is necessary to consider in more detail each of the stages to understand all the features and nuances of the implementation of experimental design work.
Development of technical specifications
Development work is an extremely complex and voluminous complex of measures aimed at achieving a certain result through scientific research and experiment. Before starting work, the contractor must receive technical specifications from the customer.
The contractor himself (or the staff of the research laboratory) can take part in the development of TK. The order of development of the assignment is not regulated in any way. TK has current status until all official studies are completed. If it is necessary to amend the terms of reference, it is necessary to take into account the interests and capabilities of all parties to the development contract. If agreement was received in principle for making adjustments, an additional agreement to the contract is drawn up.
In the event that the work was successful, and on the part of the management it was decided to use the results in production, the research team begins to develop a conceptual design.
Terms of Reference is a plain text document. Graphics, if present in it, then in the form of several primitive schemes.
For this document to have legal force, it must be approved by the head of the organization (head of the laboratory, chief engineer, and so on).
If a third-party organization acts as a customer, the draft terms of reference are approved by the leaders of both structures - the scientific laboratory and the manufacturing enterprise.
Upon receipt of the terms of reference, representatives and specialists of a scientific organization must study it in great detail. After all, the situation is not ruled out that a scientific organization will not be able to carry out the required studies due to the lack of necessary equipment and equipment. Also, the option is not ruled out when such studies will cost much more than the customer plans to pay for them. Additional clarifications and negotiations with a customer representative will be required.
Creating a draft design
This project includes preliminary drawings of the product that is planned to be produced. At this stage, the study of the main elements of the product. Ultimately, the entire package should consist of a sketch with a general view of the part (assembly or mechanism), as well as the required circuits (assembly, installation, processing, electrical circuits, hydraulic and so on).
In addition to product sketches, a settlement note is also drawn up. The necessary formulas, calculations and valuable instructions, requirements and so on are added to this document.
Quite often, customers at the conclusion of an agreement on experimental design and technological work insist on the inclusion of a clause obliging the contractor to make a product model based on the results of the sketch work. It can be made of various materials (wood, plastic), unless otherwise specified in the terms of the agreement.
Upon completion of work on the sketch, the results are submitted to a general discussion of all scientific employees of the unit. This is a kind of brainstorming. Each of the team members can express their concerns and comments on the project. As practice shows, at this stage, the bulk of the flaws and shortcomings pop up.
As a result, a decision is made: either to launch the project into work, or return it to the development team for revision.
Implementation of a technical project
The difference between this stage and the previous one lies in a more detailed study of the smallest structural elements and in more thorough and accurate calculations. In some institutions, in order to save time and money, these two stages are combined into one. Although many scientists still do not recommend doing this. According to them, such actions can adversely affect the quality of the entire work, and in some cases put an end to it. Controversial statement ...
Implementation of a working draft
This project is a set of all the necessary drawings and operational maps. In accordance with these drawings, the first working copy (prototype) should be made. This sample will be subjected to extensive testing. According to the results, it will be accepted to launch the product in series or to return for revision.
Formation of a package of design documentation
If there were some simplifications when creating a working draft, then in this case everything was calculated to the smallest detail: modes, cutting speeds, feeds, a tool (working and measuring) is indicated, and so on. All this documentation will be used by engineers and technologists of the enterprise in the design and technological preparation of production for the release of a new product.
When developing a working draft, many details were overlooked and not mentioned at all. This is due to both the high qualification of the pilot production workers and the undesirability of wasting time. After all, a prototype can demonstrate the failure of the project, and everything will have to be redone first.
The package of documents must include technical specifications. This document may not contradict state and industry standards. It indicates the characteristics of the product and a description of the technology, which should ensure compliance with the specifications declared by the manufacturer. All responsibility for non-compliance and violation of production technology, resulting in non-compliance of the manufactured product with the technical conditions, lies with the manufacturer.
Research Report
As a rule, the results of work are issued in the form of reports. Access to this information is limited to a small circle of people. There are also intermediate reports, which are issued upon completion of a certain part of the studies of the entire intended volume. Such reporting is needed by the heads of departments and senior management to carry out the accounting of experimental design work and the formation of the development strategy of the enterprise.
The standard report contains a summary of the work performed, an indication of the purpose of the research, as well as a description of the methods and technologies for conducting the experiments. Depending on the complexity of the research, a package of documents can vary significantly in volume and content. At the end of the report, recommendations are given for eliminating shortcomings and omissions found in the design of the product during research work.
The report form is set by the company management. It must be respected.
Attention should be paid to the special type of report - conducting tests for compliance with quality standards (studies for obtaining a certificate). The list of goods that must undergo this procedure is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Not every scientific organization has the right to conduct such research. This requires special accreditation. Based on the results of the study, a conclusion is drawn on the conformity (inconsistency) of the goods with the declared characteristics. If the product meets high quality standards, then the corresponding certificate is issued to its owner. Undergoing such a procedure are subject to all goods and products that could potentially harm human health and life.
Patent Information Search
Information on the so-called patent purity of development is executed under the form of a report, which includes a description and information search results.
The main objective of a patent search during research and development technological work is to identify existing patents with a similar claims.
It is important to find out if the subject of the research fits the formula of a registered valid patent. You should also indicate whether this work will qualify for patenting after a comprehensive study of the subject of research by patent office experts.
If this procedure is neglected, serious troubles may arise for the company. In particular, if an organization begins to produce products that are protected by a valid patent, the technology owner will exercise his right to defend economic interests in court. It is easy to guess on whose side justice will be. Penalties with this development of events can undermine the financial stability of the organization and lead to its bankruptcy.