Echoing the same thoughts at the Business of Design Week (BODW) 2008, Mr. Victor Lo, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre said he could not emphasize more that innovation and determination for success are the two key driving forces that would sustain our economy despite the global economic downturn.
In a knowledge-based economy, "Innovation" is and will continue to be a top priority to the business success regardless of the product/service offering, the scale and the target customers. In Hong Kong, the need of transferring from low-end processing-based manufacturing industry to high-value added business presided even before the turn of the century. However, many businesses are still competing on low cost grounds. Even though the term Innovation has almost become a clichˆm, many do not know how and where to begin.
The Rapid Product Development Syndicate (RAPRODS), a strategic service unit of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), may be instrumental in realizing some of your innovative insights. In business for close to a decade, RAPRODS has proven achievements as a university-backed partner to industrial innovation, providing one-stop engineering and design support for innovative design and product development to the community.
Since its establishment in 1999, RAPRODS has completed hundreds of product development jobs in aesthetic design, industrial design, mechanical and electrical functional design, prototyping, product analysis and feasibility testing, to name a few. Making use of PolyU's internal expertise and supported by PolyU's state-of-the-art facilities in various technologies, RAPRODS' expertise and niche service readily translate to valuable results for its customers, with services ranging from conception inception to engineering for functional product prototypes.
Our design experts do not only consider the functional aspect of the product, but also take great care of the ergonomics and human factors. For example, in a recent project for a public transport company, RAPRODS re-designed their self-service ticketing machines with key considerations towards enhancement of ergonomics and aesthetic outlook.
In addition to product development services, RAPRODS also specializes in process reengineering and optimization for improving manufacturing efficiency. In a technology transfer project, RAPRODS played a pivotal role in modernizing the professional polishing centre for a leading mold manufacturer in China. In addition to state-of-the-art equipment upgrades, RAPRODS also conducted on-site training to elevate both the skills and mindset of local workers, thus effectively putting local staff in charge of operations and quality management with proven systems and practices. The successful upgrade of this operation unit has put the client in a competitive position to ensure its long-term leadership in the sector.
If you are interested to know more about how RAPRODS may be of assistance to you in product development and innovation, please contact Miss Kit Chan at tel: 3400-2713.
