SPE COURSE: Discovering Unmet Customer Needs – A Fundamental Tool for Success in the Plastics Industry

  On Demand Course

Discovering Unmet Customer Needs – A Fundamental Tool for Success in the Plastics Industry

Discovering Unmet Customer Needs – A Fundamental Tool for Success in the Plastics Industry

 

Summary

Before starting any new product or service development, it is essential that we understand our customers' needs. This first step in a development project helps us avoid costly mistakes and redesigns. This course is designed to familiarize the participants with a seven-step process for planning, executing, and analyzing valuable customer inputs. The output of this process provides valuable information to development teams as they create solutions that are most likely to address customer problems and drive sales.

  On Demand Costs

SPE Premium MemberFREE
SPE Member
$49
SPE Student Members
Student but not a student member?
Join SPE for free to get program discounts!
$25
Nonmembers$249

ON DEMAND ACCESS ENDS ON JUNE 30, 2026!

Not an SPE member? Join today and purchase demand at a discounted rate!

 
1 Session
 
Level: Intermediate
 
Total Hours: 1 Hour

  Instructor

Daniel Walker, Ph.D.
CFYO
River's End Consulting
  LinkedIn

Dr. Daniel Walker has been developing his skills in problem-solving, innovation, and culture change for several decades. He is a certified Six Sigma black belt. He holds a BS in Plastics Engineering Technology, an MS in Management, Strategy, and Leadership, and a PhD in Business Management. His doctoral research focused on organizational change and innovation. Nearly two decades ago, he developed a seven-step process to identify unmet customer needs, and as a consultant, he has shared it with clients across multiple industries. He is a dynamic instructor who strongly believes in engaging his students in the learning experience through interactive, facilitated workshops.

  Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.

  Who Should Purchase On Demand?

The target audience for this course is lead R&D managers and practitioners. They should have some familiarity with developing new and innovative products and services.

  Why Should You Purchase On Demand?

Frustrated by failed projects that waste time, money, and resources?
Many professionals know the stress and disappointment that come from launching products that don’t meet customer expectations. This workshop will help you avoid those costly missteps by teaching a structured process for identifying unmet customer needs—before development begins.

Struggling to develop products that truly resonate with your customers?
Understanding what your customers actually need is the foundation of successful innovation. This course introduces a seven-step method for planning, executing, and analyzing customer input, so you can design solutions that hit the mark and drive business growth.

Finding it difficult to turn vague customer feedback into actionable insights?
Gain practical tools to uncover and define real customer problems. You’ll learn how to translate voice-of-customer data into clear, actionable guidance for product development teams.

Worried your next launch might miss the mark—again?
Don’t rely on guesswork. This course will give you a repeatable approach to ensure your development process starts with the right information, reducing the likelihood of costly redesigns and failed products.

Want to align your team around what really matters to the customer?
Learn how customer insights can become the foundation for cross-functional collaboration, guiding decisions in R&D, marketing, and product strategy.

If these challenges sound familiar, the "Discovering Unmet Customer Needs" workshop will equip you with the mindset and methods to reduce risk, improve success rates, and deliver solutions that your customers truly value.

This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Refund Policy

Full refund 14 days prior to the event start date. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance with registration.

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Anti-Trust Statement

  1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
  2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
  3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
  4. No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at preventing unfair competition.

For more information, visit the SPE Code of Conduct page.

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