Product design strategies amongst small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms: implications for export planning and regional economic development

This paper examines the role of product design in the export performance of small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMFs) in New York State. Survey data from a sample of 99 exportoriented SMFs in the medical and dental equipment sectors reveal that commercial success is strongest amongst SMFs that design their products with a view toward serving international rather than domestic markets. An international design orientation is found tb correlate positively with a variety of performance and organizational attributes, including rates of new product development, export intensity, and recourse to external sources of scientific, technical and market information. The implications of the survey results for regional economic development are discussed, notably with regard to policy options for improving the innovation performance and international orientation of New York State SMFs.