Established in 1909, Kerotest Manufacturing Corporation has been making industrial valves from plastic and steel for use in the natural gas and petroleum industries for nearly 100 years.
Ready to implement an efficient, flexible, risk reduction process that would accelerate its new products from initial concept through launch, Kerotest attended a Catalyst Connection product development workshop to explore opportunities for future business growth. Impressed by the event, which featured a presentation on Stage-Gate™, the most widely used process for developing new products from initial concept through launch, Kerotest called on Catalyst Connection’s proven expertise to implement the system at their plant in Pittsburgh, PA.
Catalyst Connection frequently forms alliances with national leaders in manufacturing processes and management to develop services that offer southwestern Pennsylvania’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers proven best practices and tools. Catalyst Connection forged a relationship with Dr. Robert Cooper, world-renowned creator of the Stage-Gate process, to customize a new product development solution for Kerotest. At the facility, Catalyst Connection advisors worked with Dr. Cooper’s organization, Product Development Institute, leading a team of key managers and staff in learning the principles of the Stage-Gate methodology and applying them to Kerotest’s business. The group then presented the process model to other staff, including senior management, for consensus and buy-in. Following that, the advisors led the group in the development of a comprehensive implementation plan for introducing, piloting and integrating the new process with company business practices.
Stage-Gate is a powerful new product development process originally used in large corporations. With Catalyst Connection, Kerotest had access to this best practice system, along with the expertise to customize a solution that would be effective in the company’s 100-employee manufacturing environment.