Shortening of product life

Let’s analyse the product value from an economic point of view. It can be divided into view from the labour value theory and the utility value theory. The labour value theory view defines the product value would be contained within itself and determined by the amount of labour required by society. This idea, according to Wikipedia, began with the English physician and economist William Petty and systematised by Adam Smith and Ricardo and was finally brought together by Marx.
In other words, the source of product value is not the value of the product itself but the idea that we are paying for the labour that has produced and transported it, which is more of a classical economic theory. On the other hand, the utility-value theory states that the value of a product is determined by the magnitude of its utility (satisfaction), and the utility (satisfaction) obtained by consuming a particular product is defined as the value. This evaluation of utility (satisfaction) is naturally different for each person, even when using the same product. Some people should think the product is expensive, and others should think it is cheap. In other words, it is also called the subjective value theory because it is largely entrusted to the individual’s subjectivity.
Suppose we search at the product life span from these two value criteria; we can see that the development of the product, until around 1980, would have been done with the importance of quality issues and safety issues that arise in making the product besides the pursuit of convenience. You may easily understand the background of the prosperity of TQC activity in the process. However, looking at the current state of product development through my own experience in the field, I have to say that the over-prioritise of utility (satisfaction) has led to a situation where we concentrate on creating superficial products driven by the mass media. For example, Instagram, a free photo-sharing software application that allows users to post their photos, can capture current trends and spread them across the globe in a matter of seconds.
Even though I cannot define it, It creates a fictional world that directs a situation where it looks like your photo album got booming. People involved in product planning flock to this fictional world, and They only heap up the fictional world as if it is driven by theme, but the person themselves is entirely unaware of it. In a sense, we might not be realised that we are creating “the shortening of product life” by ourselves.

Development of new products with thoughts integrated with wisdom

Given this, it seems that the only way to ensure that product life spans are not shortened but rather extended is that it seems to need to cultivate the way to view in neutral perspective for the 5th to 10th years ahead. This is because the social environment in which products are developed is one in which technology and product value are being lost year after year in the face of fierce price and sales competition. The R&D and development sites that play a crucial role in product development are forced to work in a harsh development environment.
To overcome this situation, it is essential to take a neutral view of the near future and decide on the content of R&D. R&D should be able to develop new products and manufacturing methods, research for improvements, and provide technical input manufacturing and sales. The more chaotic the world becomes like the present, the more we need the development with “Thoughts integrated with wisdom”.