The concept of "professional product" in modern times

In the Manufacturing era of our times from primitive stages maintaining quality was a matter of great concern and many versions and approaches were tried from time to time. Maintaining consistent quality was a key concern. The Japanese brought in various concepts and also TQM in the management and sustenance of Quality. These concepts of Quality being more focused to the Industrial regime and climate.

I still believe confusion of sorts exist in the way the word Quality is understood and perceived and the very foundations of Quality Management is facing some kind of metamorphosis. Along with product quality gets attached service quality and with service quality gets linked relationship quality. This means that an organization not only makes worthy products but also services it well and thereafter continues to engage customers in constructive relationships.This is the cycle of Product Life Cycle Management. This means quality of today is a series of sequential activities forming some kind of a cycle.

I have believed the entire area of Product Management comes from the basis of Quality Management. Three kinds of products can be identified on the above lines namely....Basic Product......Quality Product.....and lastly a Professional Product.. A basic product is a product at its most fundamental level and can be put to more than one use. The end use of such a product is not very specific but the product exhibits basic functionalities. A Quality product is slightly augmented version of the above and has more advanced specifications and more than anything else has a specific function and role. A more refined version of the above is a Professional Product ..a product that meets professional standards. In the modern  day world products are moving over these continuum over these various levels or stages.

What is a basic product. A gas stove that can be moved around a place and used for multiple purposes is a basic product. When the stove is more streamlined with few multiple burners and placed in a kitchen for specific ends it is a Quality Product. It becomes a professional product when professional elements are added in its design..a control system that gives early warning of gas exhaustion..a leak warning system and may be some form of more user friendly container which can be shifted with ease