In this article, a recently published procedure for product design is applied to the design of carpet deodorizers/disinfectants and expanded to include multiple competitors. The procedure proposes to make a connection between consumer preferences in different markets, plant design, and supply-chain limitations to the characteristics of the product. Exploiting this connection, the procedure proposes to add a price-demand model and maximize the profit by simultaneously changing product characteristics and product price in each market. A consumer-preference model based on disinfectant effectiveness, scent type and intensity, fragrance duration, toxicity, and odor elimination properties was developed to assess consumer choices. Finally, the aforementioned consumer properties are linked to the product basic design parameters, such as slow-release particle diameter, fragrance content, proportion of ingredients, etc. The best product from the consumer point of view turns out not to be the most profitable. This well-known fact from practical experience can now be quantified, and a formal procedure to manage it is available.

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