By John Donoghue, Head of Corporate Markets, GLG. In many companies, research and development is one discrete step in a linear product lifecycle, separate from production, distribution, sales, and marketing. This step-by-step process can adversely silo information, create expensive and inhibitive redundancies, and wind up being counter-productive to growth. Today's top manufacturers constantly hone and finesse their processes, investing time and money to safeguard against complacency and competition. Valspar Corporation's 200 years of paint development has yielded a systematic product lifecycle that integrates huge chunks of the product lifecycle. Read the full article here.