# Milan Cerovic | Strategies for Succeeding at New Product Development

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-04-07
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 14
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/milan-cerovic-new-product-development/

## Summary

Milan Cerovic, VP of R&D at Wrap and former NPD manager at Taser (now Axon), shares strategies for successful new product development, emphasizing the importance of clear requirements and early prototyping. He discusses his work on the BallWrap 150 and the origin of Taser's body-worn cameras, highlighting how physical prototypes helped define user needs and functionality. Cerovic advises engineers to balance industrial design with mechanical engineering, use tools like SolidWorks and KeyShot for visualization, and maintain organized, focused workflows to avoid common pitfalls like scope creep and poor communication.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=0) Introduction: Milan Cerovic and Pipeline Design & Engineering
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=96) Milan's Background: From Serbia to Taser and Wrap
- [3:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=236) Key Projects: BallWrap 150 and Taser Body Cameras
- [10:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=624) Common NPD Failures: Lack of Requirements and Direction
- [13:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=781) Defining Requirements: Quality Function Deployment and Stakeholders
- [17:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=1062) Starting a Project: Prototyping Critical Components Early
- [21:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=1279) Industrial Design vs. Engineering: Blurring Lines and Tools
- [24:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=1440) Essential Engineer Traits: Mechanical Aptitude and Organization
- [28:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=1701) Recommended Vendors: McMaster, Rapid Cut, and Prototyping Services
- [32:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=1957) Career Advice: Visual Communication and Education
- [35:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=2141) Productivity Habits: Punctuality and Focus
- [38:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=2302) Failures: Lack of Communication and Design Reviews
- [41:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=2489) Ideal Tools: Mold Flow Integration and Immersive Scheduling
- [46:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=2772) Simulation Software: Simscale and SaaS Models
- [47:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-07-milan-cerovic-strategies-for-succeeding-at-new-product-development#t=2836) Joy and Frustration: Creation vs. Market Mismatch

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Taser (company)
- Axon (company)
- Wrap (company)
- BallWrap 150 (product)
- Ball 100 (product)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- KeyShot (tool)
- McMaster (other)
- Rapid Cut (other)
- Simscale (other)
- ANSYS (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-11-09-149-how-to-professionally-prototype-your-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-02-269-ultra-precise-death-ray-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Interview with Eric Ries - Transorted Testing Tachydidaxy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-08-21-interview-with-eric-ries-transorted-testing-tachydidaxy) (The Amp Hour)
- [164: The 3 Prototyping Phases for New Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-23-164-the-3-prototyping-phases-for-new-product-development) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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