**Overview** The New Product Development (NPD) Associate plays a pivotal role in conceptualizing, developing, and launching new products that align with the company’s strategic goals and market needs. This position involves collaboration across departments, market research, and hands-on involvement in product lifecycle stages, from ideation to commercialization, reporting to the Manager, Product Development. This position requires a detailed understanding of the multiple production platforms and their capabilities within the FUJIFILM Personalized Products Printing Group (3PG) facilities. FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, consists of six operating divisions. The Imaging Division provides consumer and commercial photographic products and services, including silver halide consumables; inkjet consumables; digital printing equipment, along with service and support; personalized photo products fulfillment; film; one-time-use cameras; and the popular INSTAX® line of instant cameras, smartphone printers, instant film, and accessories _._ The Electronic Imaging Division markets its GFX System and X Series lines of mirrorless digital cameras, lenses, and accessories to provide a variety of content creation solutions for both still and moving imagery. The Optical Devices Division provides optical lenses for the broadcast, cinematography, closed circuit television, videography, and industrial markets, and also markets binoculars and other optical imaging solutions. The Graphic Communication Division utilizes its extensive industry knowledge to develop fully supported traditional and digital print solutions for industries including commercial print, wide format, and packaging with its comprehensive line of digital inkjet presses, production toner printers, and software. The Industrial Products Division delivers new products derived from Fujifilm technologies including data storage tape products, including OEM and FUJIFILM Ultrium LTO cartridges, desalination solutions, microfilters and gas separation membranes. The Non-Destructive Testing Division delivers radiography solutions to ensure high accuracy inspection of transportation infrastructure, and assets within aerospace, and oil and gas industries. FNAC-ID Personalized Photo Products Group (PPPG) now makes more than 450 personalized items (such as coffee mugs, posters, framed prints, canvas wall décor and more). PPPG provides a turnkey, back-end service of producing these items for a variety of retail and online customers.  **External US** **Responsibilities:** 1. **Product Development -** **Coordination and Evaluation** Coordination and development of new products under direction within the New Product Development team. The New Product Development Associate is a strong voice in creation and ideation within New Product Development. This is a critical position to enable rapid product evaluation with a goal of “speed to market” within agreed development timelines. The role shall: + Create development specifications for proposed new products. + Evaluate, define and establish quality standards in collaboration with lab production management. + Production of high-quality new and existing product samples for agreed stakeholders within the development process (Internal temp checks, customer sales pitches, business group management). + Tracking progress of all work to meet agreed timelines. + Liaising with business stakeholders to agree the content for sample production. + Evaluate competitive products for comparison as part of ongoing continuous improvement. + Initiates PO requests for development samples within the NPD process. + Document external vendor products receipt, maintaining a log of sample materials, vendor, and sample locations. + Validate production processes with key stakeholders. + Defining complete product specifications and printing/output standards for the product evaluation to be shared with product management. 1. **Product Set Up** Setup of existing standard catalog in the PULS(Pacs Unified Lab System)database to ensure that systems engineering, and production can test incoming files and product output. This position is responsible for ensuring that all product tables in PULS are set up prior to launch: + Set-up of Product Definitions; weights and dimensions and shipping weights and dimensions, and approved pricing of products in the 3PG PULS system in preview, stage and live, for approval through the established process. + Coordinate samples for product photography. Initiates PO requests for product photography with the selected photographer. + Create design guides and overlays, mapping design guides, overlays and product images to appear in the customer facing catalog. + Maps the design guides, overlays and product images in PULS that will be in the customer facing product catalog. + Set-up for all FUJIFILM and 3 rd party products. + Ensure product readiness for launch with a final validation report. 1. **Product Research and Analysis** The New Product Development Associate shall research and document detailed product information and maintain documented records for visibility and across product and production teams working within the New Product Development process. The information is critical to ensure products development goals meet specific quality, financial and production requirements against competitor offerings. As required, documentation also includes the coordination of the EHS qualification process. The role shall work within the agreed NPD process to: + Update Product Definitions with milestones and development progress. + Documents Product Evaluation reports including proposed production processes, equipment requirements, testing results and proposed output quality goals. + Documents Competitive Product Comparison Samples to reference packaging and any unique feature related to production. 1. **Project Management** + Monitor product development timelines and milestones to ensure on-time delivery of new products. + Maintain detailed records and documentation of project progress, changes, and outcomes within AHA and agreed systems. + Creates a manual PDF Override Specification Document as required for products included in the customer product catalog. + Communicate updates, challenges and escalations to the Manager, Product Development and stakeholders in a timely manner. 1. **Collaboration and Communication** + Work closely with suppliers to source materials and components for product development. + Partner with marketing and sales teams to align product features with promotional strategies. + Participate in cross-functional meetings to provide updates and gather input on projects. 1. **Testing and Quality Assurance** + Coordinate product testing and validation to ensure compliance with all required quality standards. + Analyze feedback from testing phases and implement necessary adjustments. + Ensure agreed EHS testing is complete before progressing product development, working with internal stakeholders, vendors and test facilities. + Coordinate Sample production for new and existing products for any required tests or customer presentation. 1. **Process Improvement** + Contributes to the optimization of NPD processes and workflows. + Suggest improvements based on lessons learned from completed projects. 1. **Production expertise (Equipment, Production and Product Knowledge)** To be effective the New Product Development Coordinator must be familiar with the production capabilities and equipment within 3PG facilities. The systems include a significant number of print and finishing platforms. This general knowledge of all new and existing equipment is required to run testing and production samples with minimal production supervision, including the following technologies: + Sublimation + Inkjet + UV + Epson Solvent printers + CX3240 + P6000 + Colex + Graphtec + Acuity + Book press equipment + Sheet Laminator + Xerography: Igen/Revoria **Required Skills/Education:** + HS Graduate / Associate degree is preferred, but equal consideration given for equivalent business experience. + 1-3 years of experience in product development, project management, or a similar role. + Understanding of current and developing trends within the personalized photo product marketplace, + Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of production platforms. Keen interest in imaging and printing technologies would be beneficial. **Desired Skills** Product and Project management skills are both critical to this position. Individuals should have a firm grasp of most Microsoft solutions such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint and the use of online CRM and project management platforms. Individuals should possess excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to work closely with team members as well as internal and external customers and service providers. **EEO/AGENCY NOTES** Fujifilm is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation, and any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Fujifilm about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Fujifilm via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Fujifilm, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Fujifilm for this requisition and a valid agreement with Fujifilm is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the Fujifilm agency engagement process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid. **Job Locations** _US-SC-Greenwood_ **Posted Date** _2 days ago_ _(12/12/2024 4:07 PM)_ **_Requisition ID_** _2024-32828_ **_Category_** _Manufacturing_ **_Company (Portal Searching)_** _FUJIFILM North America Corporation - Personalized Photo Products Group_