CLIENT: Worthington Industries // PRODUCT: Bernzomatic Utility Lighters
D-TERRA SERVICES: New Product Feasibility Consulting, Manufacturing Launch Consulting, Quality Inspection Oversight, Supply Chain Services
The Opportunity
Worthington is North American’s premier, value-added steel processor, providing customers with wide ranging capabilities, products and services for a variety of markets including automotive, construction and agriculture. Worthington is also the leading global supplier of pressure tanks and cylinders. The company manufactures a host of pressure cylinders products for industrial gas and cryogenic applications, transportation and alternative fuel storage, oil and gas equipment, and consumer brand retail products, including BernzOmatic, Coleman and Balloon Time. Worthington approached D-Terra to assist with the manufacturing launch of a new and improved line of utility lighters for the Bernzomatic brand of products.
The Solution
Forging Ahead
Working in concert with Worthington’s product development and engineering group we work with offshore suppliers to improve the new product introduction process to ensure smooth, on-time product launches. Following a structured phase-gate release process we help Worthington mitigate risk to ensure high quality products are built at the lowest possible costs. D-Terra also helps Worthington bring new innovative products to market that allow it to compete and win in the marketplace.
The Strategy
D-Terra’s Product Commercialization Strategy:
- New product innovation feasibility studies
- Supplier development consulting
- New product introduction (NPI) consulting
- Product quality oversight
- Supply Chain, Sourcing and Logistics
The Result
- Quicker Go-No-Go decisions for new product introductions
- Shepherd Worthington’s offshore suppliers thru new and improved product launches
- Speed-to-Market focus to accelerate product launch time by 3 months to meet retail demands allowing Worthington to increase market share
- Product quality oversight to meet PPAP requirements and ensure suppliers are meeting Worthington and consumer product safety (CPSC) quality standards