| ISO 9000 |
| Internal Auditing |
| SPC |
| Integrated Management Systems |
| Six Sigma |
| Root Cause Analysis/Problem Solving |
 |
|||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
 |
Like any other type of product, Biobased products must meet the technical needs and economic realities of the marketplace in order to be successful. Omni Tech combines technical expertise with business experience to accurately assess the market potential of a potential product, including both market size and value, before technical research and expenditures are begun. This assessment may begin with an evaluation of a raw material, or even a waste stream, to pinpoint potential areas of research with the greatest likelihood of success. Or it may begin with an intermediate material to determine where to focus developmental research for the greatest near term commercial return. Using a full life cycle approach, a market assessment may explore the regulatory compliance costs along with the potential for energy and process savings for both the manufacturing process and the end user to determine total system costs. The performance and estimated cost of potential products are compared to current competitive products showing the strengths and weaknesses of both. Market options are rated for the likelihood of technical success, the estimated cost of research and the long term capital cost required for production. In this way a client may judge the viability of various courses of research with full knowledge of what the long term cost and risks may be. Between an exciting new discovery in the lab and a finished product in production lie many months or often years of painstaking development. Where do you begin? Where do you find the right resources? Omni Tech associates bring many years of experience in product and process development. Beginning with an evaluation of the research at hand, an Omni Tech associate may identify opportunities to redirect laboratory research to overcome process or cost obstacles in production before they begin, or independently validate the present course. Product testing and certification are guided by professionals with experience in dealing with the appropriate certification agencies and ASTM committees. Omni Tech's practical experience in manufacturing allows us to oversee process design, avoid or remove bottlenecks and achieve truly low cost manufacturing processes. Since most agricultural and forestry products are used primarily for food, feed and building materials, few companies in the chemical industry have experience in sorting through the bewildering array of raw materials and partially processed intermediates to find the most appropriate starting material. Similarly, few agricultural processors are truly familiar with the many markets for industrial chemicals. The gap of knowledge and contacts from one side to the other can be staggering. With over 400 associates, Omni Tech has a vast network of contacts and experience. We have utilized that network effectively for our clients to cross over the gap that exists between suppliers of biobased raw materials and the manufacturers and customers for Biobased products. This may include finding the lowest cost source of a raw material, locating a toll manufacturer with appropriate equipment or matching a new biobased product with industrial customers. Finding and utilizing the right expertise is the first key to success in new product development. No research laboratory has the expertise or equipment to take on all projects effectively. No organization has the pilot plants and testing equipment needed for every project. At Omni Tech, we don't operate in-house laboratories or testing facilities. Instead we find the organizations that have the right expertise and experience for each project. We use our in-house expertise to manage those outside resources. We have developed a state-of-the-art tracking system to monitor progress on every research project we manage, sometimes 50 or more projects simultaneously. Reports show, graphically, progress towards milestones or the lack of expected progress. Contract researchers are constantly directed or redirected toward agreed-upon goals. The same is true for other contract services from outside testing labs to contractors doing commercialization activities such as permitting, technical writing or even pre-launch publicity.
|
||||||||||||||