Re-Engineering the Technology Acquisition Process

EPSRC

Management of Technology Initiative

Project Number: GR/K/11468

Project Title: RE-ENGINEERING THE

TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION

PROCESS

Document Title: Managing the Product Development Process

(Part 1: An Assessment)

Document Date: 4 May, 2005

S. Jenkins1, S. Forbes1 T.S. Durrani1 S.K. Banerjee2

University of Strathclyde

Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering1

and

Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management2

204, George Street

Glasgow, G1 1XW

CONTENTS

1. ABSTRACT 1

2. PREAMBLE 1

3. INTRODUCTION 1

4. METHODOLOGIES FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 2

4.1 PHASED DEVELOPMENT 2

4.2 STAGE / GATE MODELS 3

4.3 PRODUCT AND CYCLE-TIME EXCELLENCE - PACE 5

4.3.1 The Phase Review Process 5

4.3.2 Core Team Project Organisation 6

4.3.3 Structured Development Process 6

4.3.4 Product Development Strategy 6

4.3.5 Technology Management 8

4.3.6 Design Techniques and Automatic Development Tools 9

4.3.7 Cross Project Management 10

4.4 TOTAL DESIGN 11

5. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13

6. CONCLUSIONS 14

7. REFERENCES 15

1. ABSTRACT

Recent studies have indicated that a company’s chances of success in launching new products is dependent

upon the management of the new product development process. The increasing rate of technological change coupled with increasing global competition, means that a high rate of new product development and introduction in the marketplace is vital to a company’s continued growth and long-term survival. In this paper methodologies for new product development, including: (a) Phased Development, (b) Stage / Gate Models, (c) Product and Cycle-time Excellence - PACE and, (d) Total Design, are investigated. The strengths and weaknesses of each methodology are assessed and proposals for improved management of the new product development process in manufacturing are discussed.

2. PREAMBLE

The paper presents early findings from the work conducted at the University of Strathclyde on ‘Re-engineering the Technology Acquisition Process’, under a Project sponsored by the EPSRC ‘Management of Technology’ Initiative.

In order to understand the process of technology acquisition in manufacturing organisations, the project team has studied the product development process and its interactions with the requirements for technology acquisition and management. The acquisition of technology represents a strategic decision, based on the type of products that a company wishes to market in the future. The product development process provides a key link between a company’s business strategy and its technology acquisition strategy.

The concepts discussed in this paper are being tested with a number of industrial organisations, and results of the study will be presented at the conference.

3. INTRODUCTION

In today’s highly competitive world-wide markets, the future of all firms depends upon their ability to produce a constant stream of quality new products that meet their customers’ needs. There is thus a requirement for developing a methodology that will ensure a high rate of new product success. While management initiatives, such as World Class Manufacturing and Total Quality management