ABSTRACT
This chapter provides introductory background information in terms of definitions, key issues, and considerations in understanding products, complex products, customers, customer needs, systems, system decomposition, processes, product development process, production process, and product life cycle. The purpose of products is to allow the customers to perform certain functions that cannot be performed by the individuals alone. The products must be designed to satisfy the customers in meeting their needs. The chapter also covers flow diagrams of product development and production processes and describes management of product development activities by understanding the connectedness of systems, systems of systems, product decomposition into lower-level entities such as systems, subsystems, sub-subsystems and components, product life cycle, disciplines involved in product development processes, and management of product development phases by use of timing charts and key decision points or milestones.
