Product Developer Coordinator (Furniture)

Job Description

Mercana is one of North Americas leading home furnishings wholesalers, with interior designers and retail partners around the globe. As a design-first company, we produce unique pieces for the home each season, including wall art, furniture, lighting, and home decor accessories.SummaryAs a Product Development Coordinator, you will play a central role in managing prototyping projects and collaborating closely with manufacturers to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. You will implement feedback loops to refine designs and maintain product integrity. Your responsibilities extend to comprehensive product information management, where youll work with design teams to document materials, dimensions, and finishes while also maintaining detailed records of prototype iterations. Quality assurance is paramount, as youll implement rigorous testing processes to ensure prototypes meet regulatory requirements and address any issues promptly.Responsibilities Project Management: Effectively manage prototyping projects, coordinating with manufacturers to meet project timelines and milestones. Provide regular updates to Head Office team on prototyping progress, risks, and opportunities. Prototype Development: Directly manage the prototyping process with manufacturers, overseeing the creation of product prototypes according to design specifications and quality standards. Implement feedback loops to iterate on prototypes and refine designs as needed. Product Information Management: Collaborate with design teams to develop comprehensive product information and specifications documentation, detailing materials, dimensions, finishes, and other key attributes. Document prototype iterations and revisions, maintaining detailed records of design changes and improvements. Quality Assurance: Implement robust quality assurance processes throughout the prototyping phase, conducting thorough testing and evaluation to ensure prototypes meet quality standards and regulatory requirements. Address any issues or deficiencies promptly to maintain product integrity. Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the prototyping process, seeking opportunities to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Implement best practices and lessons learned to optimize future prototyping projects. Supplier and Vendor Management: Cultivate strong relationships with manufacturing partners, facilitating open communication and collaboration. Ensure that manufacturers understand and adhere to design requirements, quality standards, and project timelines. Cost Management: Collaborate with manufacturers to manage prototyping costs effectively, optimizing material usage and production processes to meet target cost objectives. Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising product quality or integrity. Collaboration: Foster close collaboration between design, development, quality assurance and manufacturing teams to streamline prototyping processes. Ensure seamless communication and coordination to bring new products from concept to market efficiently. Market Analysis: Stay informed about market trends, competitor products, and consumer feedback to inform prototyping decisions and product strategies.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) On-Time Delivery Rate: Percentage of prototyping projects delivered within agreed-upon timelines. Quality Assurance Compliance: Rate of prototypes passing quality assurance tests and meeting regulatory requirements. Documentation Accuracy: Accuracy and completeness of product information and specifications documentation. Supplier Satisfaction: Feedback and satisfaction ratings from manufacturing partners regarding communication, collaboration, and adherence to requirements. Prototype Iteration Time: Average time taken to iterate on prototypes based on feedback and refine designs. Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Number of implemented process improvements and their impact on efficiency and quality.Qualifications Proven experience in Product Development and/or Quality Assurance, preferably in coordinating prototyping projects. Familiarity with CAD software and product information management systems is a plus.,

Keyskills :
Product DevelopmentQuality AssuranceProject ManagementProduct Information ManagementQuality AssuranceContinuous ImprovementCost ManagementCollaborationMarket AnalysisPrototype DevelopmentSupplier