Backstage: Product Management

"Creating solutions for our customers ensures the success of our high-quality products."

Patricia, product manager viscometry | Anton Paar GmbH

When attending an assessment center for the first time in my life in July 2016, I was asked what I understood by the term product management. My answer was roughly: “It’s a constant monitoring of the product, from the idea over market research to implementation, market launch, market development, and finally until the end of the product’s life.”

Shortly afterwards, I started working as a global product manager in the product area of viscometry. I realized that my idea of product management corresponded with the reality that was lived at Anton Paar. Immediately, I assumed technical, qualitative and economic responsibility for an existing product, the rotational rheometer RheolabQC, and was involved in the development of a new one, the new rotational viscometer ViscoQC.

In order to purposefully develop products that provide solutions for our customers, it is essential to take over their perspective, to know about their daily challenges and to represent their view in our company by always considering economic efficiency. I worked out these key factors in close cooperation with our worldwide sales network, but also by use of primary market research (e.g. on site with our customers) as well as secondary market research (e.g. articles in technical magazines). As a product manager, it is also very important to monitor the market and competitors constantly, to recognize trends, and to act proactively, if needed. Agile working methods like SCRUM provide great support too.

My tasks also include the strategic orientation of our products. Which actions do I have to set this year to guarantee the economic success of our products? How will the market and our customers’ requirements develop? What will our portfolio look like in 3 to 5 years? These are only a few questions that are my constant companions in my daily work.

I highly appreciate playing an important interface role in the Anton Paar Group. My field of work as a product manager is extremely diversified, collaborating with different departments like sales, marketing, and development. For me, it is very important to listen, to understand, and to analyze in order to set priorities for our next steps together. To reach our goal, it is often necessary to show assertiveness and to approach others proactively.

It is our greatest success to have customers who are satisfied with our products. They show me and the whole team that last years’ hard work pays off while keeping with our slogan: Great people, great instruments.