Behind the Scenes at CRAFTSMAN®
“These are the kinds of tools you might not know you need, but when you realize everything you can do with them, you wonder how you ever went without them.” That’s what Brent K., Engineering Director, said about the CRAFTSMAN V20* Powerfile and CRAFTSMAN V20* BRUSHLESS RP™ Cut-Off Tool — both products he helped design.
To learn more, we asked him to share some background into the making of these tools and what the recognition by Popular Mechanics signifies.
“These two tools truly came out of seeing an end-user need — I actually use them in my shop frequently,” Brent says. “Developed by a cross-functional team, we came together to create products that prioritize versatility, control and use across a wide variety of applications.”
The creation of these two products started by gaining a deeper understanding of our end-users’ exact needs. “Working with the product team, we spent time with our end-users to learn more about the challenges they face and what applications our tools might be used for,” Brent says.
The insights they gathered directly informed the products’ designs. For example, research showed that users prioritized control and ease of operation for the CRAFTSMAN V20* Powerfile. With the CRAFTSMAN V20* BRUSHLESS RP™ Cut-Off Tool, they sought the ability and versatility to cut a wide range of materials.
Different engineering groups came together to collaborate as they transformed these ideas and insights into reality. “Each team played an important role in developing these tools — a total team effort,” Brent says.
When asked about the recognition from Popular Mechanics, Brent states, “This recognition is a testament to our team’s effort and the Company’s commitment to understanding our end-users’ needs and developing solutions for them.”
