Speed-to-Market is cited as being vital in today’s competitive, uncertain and turbulent environments. Scholars and industry professionals alike assert that companies can achieve competitive advantages by launching their product faster than their competitors. However, this paper presents a slightly different perspective on speed-to-market by considering another aspect of the speed equation-speed-to-learn or fast learning in new product development (NPD) teams. We assert that although speed-to-market can increase the probability of new product success, speed-to-learn is one of the critical factors that allows teams to get to market rapidly and be more successful. In this study, we propose a model for fast team learning in new product development based on constructs borrowed from accelerated learning models or suggestopedy in the individual learning scholarship. We then empirically test the model on 171 new product teams. We argue that 1) fastlearning teams launch new products quicker with an increased probability of success. And 2) specific mechanisms that are within the teams ’ control can help teams learn faster. Mechanisms uncovered include: vision clarity, learning from customer and competitor, and information coding.

Schedule risk is an important category of risk in complex system product development. This paper presents a framework that facilitates understanding schedule risk from a systems perspective. Research findings from literature and a Delphi-type survey of experienced product development managers and system engineers at a major aerospace company are synthesized into a framework characterizing sources of schedule uncertainty. The framework includes not only key uncertainty drivers but also the hypothesized or theorized relationships between them. Since risk is more than just uncertainty, consequences of schedule overruns and of schedule uncertainty itself are also discussed. This research contributes a more comprehensive, systems view to the studies of product development and risk management and to the practice of both in industry. The paper also examines potential paths for future

This article examines the contributions of human resource and organizational practices to the development and supply chain management interface. It addresses this issue in the context of the semiconductor industry by highlighting the importance of these practices for learning-based improvement in manufacturing. One of the most important factors for competitiveness in the semiconductor industry is the ability to manufacture new process technologies with high yields and low cycle times. The more effective management of new process technologies within the manufacturing facility aids firms in managing production costs, volumes, and inventories. Efficient management of new process development and introduction translates into enhanced internal supply chain management performance by improving the design of internal workflows, manufacturing performance, and the acquisition and installation of new manufacturing processes. Because much of the knowledge that underpins semiconductor manufacturing is idiosyncratic, however, firm-level differences in human resource and organizational practices are likely to have consequences for performance. The article derives learning curve models of the

There are new requirements in industry on reduced lead times and increased flexibility to adapt to changes in market situation, and in technology. Information technology has enabled new organisational solutions to co-operation, communication, information management, etc. This paper discusses the implications from this new situation on both contents and organisation of engineering education and on industrial training. The conclusions are based on experiences from several ordinary engineering curricula as well as on the development of training programs in industry and in healthcare.

Research on design optimization has developed and demonstrated a variety of modeling techniques and solution methods, including techniques for multidisciplinary design optimization, and these approaches are beginning to migrate into product development practice. Software tools are appearing to assist with the optimization task. However, the complexity of the optimization problems being considered continues to increase because changing business strategies stress the importance of concurrent engineering and considering multiple disciplines simultaneously. This paper presents a novel classification framework for design optimization problems. The framework sorts design optimization problems based on the type of variables being considered and the objective functions being optimized. It does not focus on the algorithms used to solve the problems. This classification framework provides a new perspective that can help design engineers use optimization in the most appropriate way.

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Abstract—In the 1980s, companies began to feel the effect of three major influences on their product development: newer and innovative technologies, increasing product complexity and larger organizations. And therefore companies were forced to look for new product development methods. This paper tries to focus on the two of new product development methods (DFM and CE). The aim of this paper is to see and analyze different product development methods specifically on Design for Manufacturability and Concurrent Engineering. Companies can achieve and be benefited by minimizing product life cycle, cost and meeting delivery schedule. This paper also presents simplified models that can be modified and used by different companies based on the companies’ objective and requirements. Methodologies that are followed to do this research are case studies. Two companies were taken and analysed on the product development process. Historical data, interview were conducted on these companies in addition to that, Survey of literatures and previous research works on similar topics has been done during this research. This paper also tries to show the implementation cost benefit analysis and tries to calculate the implementation time. From this research, it has been found that the two companies did not achieve the delivery time to the customer. Some of most frequently coming products are analyzed and 50 % to 80 % of their products are not delivered on time to the customers. The companies are following the traditional way of product development that is sequentially design and production method, which highly affect time to market. In the case study it is found that by implementing these new methods and by forming multi disciplinary team in designing and quality inspection; the company can reduce the workflow steps from 40 to 30. Keywords—Design for manufacturability, Concurrent Engineering, Time-to-Market, Product development.

Abstract- The paper presents results of a pilot project on technological innovation of main flexible components for automotive suspension systems, that are coil springs and stabilizer bars. Current technology has been described and related problems have been outlined. In order to fulfil features as compactness, lightness and environmentally conscious design, solutions based on new forms, materials and manufacturing processes have been proposed. Improvements in weights, dimensions, noiselessness, corrosion and fatigue strength, environmental effects, have been all assessed, keeping a quite low project cost (around $ 3 million).

One of the major challenges in managing new product development is the difficulty in measuring product development performance. “Although new product development projects are inherently multidisciplinary, studies of development projects typically adopt a singular functional perspective of performance. Inherent functional differences contribute to a natural tendency toward myopic evaluation of development efforts. The result is a uni-dimensional and incomplete view of the innovation process and outcomes (Tatikonda and Montoya-Weiss 2001).” We present an integrated framework for measuring product development performance. The framework emphasizes the need for recognition of the relationships between metrics used by design, manufacturing, and marketing functions, and proposes a three-stage model for exploring the relationships among various performance metrics used by different functions involved in a product development project and their relationship to business success. Using a database of 38 product development projects in the high tech electronics manufacturing sector, we attempt to validate the proposed framework empirically and identify directions for further research.

We discuss strategic renewal from a competence perspective. We argue that the management of speed and timing in this process is viewed distinctively when perceived through a cognitive lens. Managers need more firmly grounded process-understanding. The key idea of this paper is to dynamically conceptualize key activities of strategic renewal, and possible sources of break-down as they relate to the managment of speed and timing. Based on a case from the media industry, we identify managerial trade-offs and show how these can be influenced through managing subjective perception, strategic involvement and external knowledge-sourcing.