Implementation of Multi-Year Product Innovation Projects

A methodology and case study detailing the implementation of multi-year product innovation projects is presented. A product called the Waterboy, an inexpensive water purification system designed for under developed countries, was developed by three different groups of students over a span of two years. The initial concept was first developed by a six member entrepreneurial team composed of senior level business and engineering students enrolled in a one semester Product Innovation and Development course. This team was responsible assessing the market need, determining product requirements and developing a limited functionality prototype capable of demonstrating the intended product function. A second team consisting of two Mechanical Engineering students continued the project as their one semester Senior Capstone Design project and was charged with the task of developing a fully functional prototype capable of purifying contaminated water. A third student completed the project as a one semester senior level Design Projects course and was charged with the task of modifying the previous design to minimize cost, facilitate ease manufacture and reduced assembly and distribution costs. In the Fall of 2010, the entrepreneurial team conducted interviews with health professionals and performed research involving a number of world health and philanthropic organizations. They identified the need for an improved water purification device which could purify enough water for a family of four in a reasonable amount of time and at a cost which would make it accessible to people in underdeveloped countries who are at risk of dying from the consumption of contaminated drinking water. They developed a bicycle driven system which used an ultraviolet germicidal bulb to purify water. The team developed a prototype which demonstrated the basic function of the device which was estimated to cost about $80. The project was continued in the Fall of 2011 by the second team of Mechanical Engineering seniors who refined the purification system and function of the device while simplifying the design, resulting in an estimated cost of $49 per unit. The team built and tested a fully functional prototype which confirmed it was capable of reducing water borne bacteria by a factor of 1000. The project was then completed in the Fall of 2012 by a Senior Mechanical Engineering Student who further reduced the cost of the design and improved its portability in order to reduce distribution costs. A partnership with Goodwill Industries was formed to utilize their recycled materials and inexpensive labor force, which reduced the product cost about $24.