Hewlett-Packard Gains Control of Inventory and Service through Design for Localization

TLDR

HP has adopted design for manufacturability, yet the link between design and market‑specific customization, distribution, and delivery is often overlooked, especially as different markets impose varied requirements. The study applies design for localization to product development, integrating operational and delivery service considerations across multiple market segments. An inventory model was created and employed by HP’s Deskjet‑Plus Printer Division to assess alternative product and process designs for localization. Proper exploration of design for localization opportunities yields significant benefits.

Abstract

At Hewlett-Packard (HP) Company, design for manufacturability has recently been adopted as a principle for product design and development. Frequently overlooked is the relationship between design and the eventual customization, distribution, and delivery of the product to multiple markets. Different markets may have different requirements for the product due to differences in taste, language, geographical environment, or government regulations. We use design for localization or design for customization for design processes that take into account the operational and delivery service considerations for the multiple market segments. We developed an inventory model that the HP's Deskjet-Plus Printer Division used to evaluate alternative product and process designs for localization. Significant benefits can be obtained by properly exploring the opportunities in this design for localization concept.