ABSTRACT
Production consists of transformation of raw materials into specific shapes, adding value by assembling components into useful devices or systems, or both. As the product is designed, a constant interchange of ideas between the designer and high-level technical factory personnel is mandatory. The packaging must be designed so that the product is not damaged or parts lost during shipment or in warehousing operations, or by customer handling. Packaging specialists should be part of the design team, although they are probably of most value late in the design cycle. Organizations that derive their authority from consumer respect can limit but cannot destroy the market for a product. Such an organization is Consumers Union, which publishes the results of its testing and evaluation in Consumer Reports. Standards may be classified in a number of nonexclusive ways. There are workplace standards, product standards, mandatory standards, and voluntary standards.
