Final testing, approval and launch

This final stage of the process is designed to identify any final constraints or problems before manufacture and is when the product or service is checked against standards and regulations, and undergoes damage testing and compatibility testing

At Virgin Atlantic Airways, final testing involves practices such as First Article Inspection and snagging. First Article Inspection is an assessment of the first item off the production line to ensure that it is fully functional. This will happen in parallel with production as there will be many components being produced and assessed in parallel at any one time.

Alongside this, snagging involves picking up any small adaptations necessary in relation to the product which are picked up at the point where it is tested in an aircraft environment, as opposed to in the factory environment. 

Launching the product or service

At this point in the design process the product or service is launched, and the process now includes liaison with appropriate internal teams in areas such as marketing, communications, packaging and brand.

At Starbucks, the importance of internal communication and the acceptance of designs is acknowledged during the production phase too. Shop floor representatives are involved in final product reviews and part of the design process is the production of photographic instructions to help store managers install and arrange new items correctly once delivered. These directions are distributed in the form of a magazine - Siren’s Eye - which describes every element of each season’s offering, with full instructions on installation and display to ensure a consistent brand experience in every store world wide.