Fisher & Paykel
EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS
| The Southland Export Forum on August 1 at the White Heron, held very interesting and informative evening with Fisher & Paykel General Manager, Chris Staynes who shared the history of plant and how they have built up their staff and products during their large growth span over the past 20 years. |  |
Fisher & Paykel now have over 300 staff in the dishdrawer dept alone, and last year expanded their factory base twice to more than 2000 feet. He explained the development and growth of products from Shacklock Ranges to a wider range of appliances with their biggest seller being the dishdrawer.
The dishdrawer had interesting beginnings… after a decision to redesign their current dishwasher, which needed more features, market research had found that the consumer felt guilty for running a partial load and wasting resources, there was an innovative design team established and they focussed on this issue. A number of solutions were offered but none feasible, until one day…. two young people on the team wheeled in an old wooden filing cabinet with two drawers which they had sat dish baskets in and so the dishdrawer concept was born. A great idea! But how would it ever work? The design team took on the challenge and succeeded, Fisher & Paykel had a world first!
Chris elaborated on how market research for their products was carried out and how they entered the export market with its global challenges, sharing the advantages and issues they faced. There was a lot to be learnt from mistakes made and correct procedures to follow, exporters attending this presentation were enlightened on how to do this successfully.
You can never stand still in this game, the innovation continues with all design teams working on exciting, innovative and aspirational products, watch out for their brilliant new product scheduled for launching later this year.
Printer Friendly Page 
