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D. G. SMITH, Jimmy Dean Foods, 8000 Centerview Parkway, #400, Cordova, TN 38018-7927

Successful development of foodservice products requires a focus on the customers associated with the product. At Jimmy Dean Foods the technical services department has dedicated a portion of its staff to the development of foodservice products. This dedication allows technical services/foodservice project managers to focus on a specific group of customers and their needs. Technical services/foodservice customers include both internal (within the company) and external customers. Internal customers include marketing, sales, operations, purchasing, and finance departments. External customers include distribution centers, brokers, specific organizations (i.e., hotels, restaurants and institutions) and the consumer.

Project managers meet the needs of internal customers by providing technical expertise and insight, while facilitating activities of various critical departments. When new projects are initiated a team of individuals from various departments are assembled to define the project, determine goals, and establish time lines for the development process. The approval of new products and progress of projects are obtained and tracked through various written agreements and a series of milestones. The progress of projects is published and reported to an executive committee on a monthly basis.

Technical services/foodservice project managers meet the needs of external customers through direct contact with customers and feedback through the sales and marketing departments. Sales and marketing departments often provide general directions and specifications for new products being developed. Product prototypes are developed, critical characteristics reviewed by internal and external customers, and revised as needed to meet the external customer's needs. Our focus on internal and external customers results in more rapid product development cycles and products that better support the goals of the business.