In particular, much of the text in the tables is jumbled. Many look for a definition of technology as that which ships out the door with the product. However, in the consumer electronics industry, in particular, this product based definition is wholely inadequate. For the purpose of allocating scarce resources to technology development and understanding how technology leadership contributes to business success a broader definition of technology is necessary. We suggest that understanding what technology is, requires understanding its' source.
Technology comes from investing in engineering activities by engineers.
With the short design cycle times and rapid technology change in the consumer electronics industry, this design process technology often makes a greater contribution to a firm's competitive position than the other two categories. Product technology is that which can found in the product that ships out the door. Product technology impacts the cost, performance, function, and physical package of the product. Product technology is layered starting from materials, components, subsystems, systems, through architectures. Manufacturing technology is that created by investing in developing processes, or employing machinery, in the production, test, control, or packaging of products and systems.