In the past, product development teams were often insulated from other disciplines within the company. Too often, products were developed without adequate input from marketing about customer needs, from manufacturing about realistic and cost–effective production, from the environmental group about potential negative impacts, or from other functions units with their unique perspectives on key product attributes. The negative impacts of this insulation included product–introduction delays, lack of vital attributes in the final products, and ongoing friction between the product development group and other functions.