Is Your Product Portfolio Working for You?

Manufacturing organisations invest significant time and effort improving operational performance.

Yet many leadership teams rarely step back to ask a more fundamental question:

Is our product portfolio truly aligned with our strategy, market opportunity and operational capability?

Over time, product portfolios naturally evolve. New products are introduced, legacy products remain in production, complexity increases and resources become spread across too many priorities.

Without clear governance, this can lead to unnecessary product complexity, declining margins, operational inefficiencies and missed opportunities for growth.

This practical leadership workshop provides manufacturing leaders with the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and assess whether their product portfolio is genuinely supporting long-term business performance.

Led by product strategy specialist Steve Dougan, the session introduces a structured diagnostic framework that helps leaders evaluate their portfolio through the lens of strategy alignment, lifecycle balance and competitive positioning.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of where their products are creating value, where risk exists within the portfolio and where future growth opportunities may lie.

The Product Performance Health Check

During the workshop participants will work through a structured assessment of a product portfolio.

The framework evaluates five key areas.

Business Strategy

Understanding the organisation’s long-term objectives and ensuring product thinking aligns with strategic priorities.

Portfolio Strategic Fit

Assessing whether the current product portfolio genuinely supports the strategic direction of the business.

Product Lifecycle

Understanding where products sit within their lifecycle and whether the organisation is balancing today’s revenue with tomorrow’s growth.

Market Position

Assessing competitive positioning and whether products are aligned with customer and market expectations.

Portfolio Health Summary

Bringing these insights together to identify portfolio risks, complexity and opportunities for improvement.

By the end of the session participants will have the tools and skill set to undertake:

• a Strategic Fit Snapshot of their current product portfolio

• a Lifecycle Risk Assessment highlighting potential vulnerabilities

• a Market Position Reality Check against competitors

• a Portfolio Priority View identifying where to focus attention

• three immediate actions to strengthen product performance"

These insights provide leaders with a practical starting point for improving product governance and portfolio performance.

Steve Dougan

Director – MagWoods Product Strategy Consultancy

Steve has more than 18 years’ experience working across multiple industrial sectors including packaging, construction and inspection equipment. His work focuses on helping manufacturing organisations define and execute product strategies, improve development processes and maximise the commercial performance of their product portfolio.

Through MagWoods, Steve supports companies in aligning customer needs, technical innovation and commercial strategy to strengthen competitive advantage and unlock new growth opportunities.

Supporting the Future of Manufacturing

This event forms part of the Future of Manufacturing Leadership Series, hosted by the Future of Manufacturing Foundation.

The Foundation exists to promote manufacturing as a career destination and connect industry leaders with the next generation of talent.

A donation of £167 per delegate is requested to attend the event.

All contributions support the work of the Foundation.

Limited Places

Places are limited to 30 delegates, with a maximum of two delegates per organisation, ensuring a high-quality discussion environment and meaningful peer interaction.

Early registration is recommended.