DAVIDSON, NC (INGERSOLL RAND NEWS SERVICE) -- Industrial Technologies recently launched a reinvigorated T30 air compressor product in the Americas. The product development process went from start to finish in just 8 months, thanks to the efforts of a cross-functional team of operations, engineering, regional marketing, order entry and global product management employees from Campbellsville, KY, Annandale, NJ, Davidson, NC, and Naroda, India.

The first generation of the T30 product was launched in 1929, and it has been steadily enhanced over the last 8 decades with added controls and upgrades. The T30 family (from 2 to 25 HP) of two-stage cast-iron reciprocating air compressors is used in the automotive repair and light industrial market segments, and still commands tremendous brand equity and market share in North America.

The "T30 NextGen" project was initiated in response to aggressive pricing from low-quality players in the lower horsepower range (less than 7.5 HP) and rotary technology in the higher horsepower range (greater than15 HP) in order to protect our market share and drive incremental growth. The goals of the T30 NextGen project were to:

• Protect and maintain our No. 1 market leader position in the United States
• Streamline a complex and diverse product line into a more rationalized product line with healthy margins
• Improve lead times for quick availability of products
• Rationalize parts between multiple compressors in the family

During the development process, the team utilized the following tools:

• Data analysis from QRMS system to identify and eliminate reliability issues
• Shipment data analysis to make decisions about end item versus configured package combinations
• Findings from competitive reciprocating air compressor teardowns to develop opportunities

As a result of the team's efforts, a revamped T30 product line was launched in the Americas with:

• 89 end item standard packages covering 90 percent of the existing T30 business
• Lead times reduced to three days or less for the 89 end item packages
• Clear product positioning thanks to a three-tier product strategy to target multiple segments in the market

A global support team representing all functions helped support the following core team members:

Global Product Management – Dipen Shah and Lee Cuneo

Operations – Bill Johnson, Gary Patterson, Terry Kingsley, Naresh Behl, Shekar Korde, Sanjeev Mishra and Praveen Shah

Engineering – Bill Lewis, John Smith, Joe Ballard, Kevin Heinrichs, John Steckel, Justin Chellew, Tim Bok, Dan Becker and Sanjeev Kumar

Americas Regional Marketing – Brian Freeman, Leigh Foster, Ashley Kramer, Matt Smith, LillyAnna Penn, Heather Dugar, Thomas Malberg and Lisa Matsen

IT and Order Management – Frank Antonides and Darrell White

"The team did a fantastic job of always keeping the customer front and center in all decisions of the project, and demonstrated each of the core Ingersoll Rand Values – Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Innovation and Courage," said Ron Ratell, global category manager, velocity for Industrial Technologies Global Product Management. "Their efforts delivered an improved offering for our customers and significant results to the enterprise. A sincere thanks to each of the core team members, as well as the multiple extended team members."