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Integrated product development (IPD) practices address strategy, organization,
business process, techniques, and tools. The implementation of this type
of broad initiative must be effectively planned and managed. DRM
Associates offers a proven approach to initiating product developments
teams / integrated product teams (PDT's/IPT's) and implementing IPD concepts.
Our general approach to implementing IPD practices and improving the development
process is described in Implementing
Integrated Product Development Practices: Lessons Learned. We would
help by:
- Review and Assessment We would conduct our structured Product Development Assessment and use gap analysis
to identify high priority opportunities for improvement that would provide
the greatest impact. The assessment would cover the organization's products,
development process, organization, tools, and IPD objectives. This would
be done through a series of interviews with various people in organization.
This information would enable us to provide more focused and relevant consulting
and training and provide feedback on issues, the organization's readiness
for IPD, and implementation priorities. As an alternative, we can provide
the organization with our Product Development
Best Practices and Assessment Software to perform a self-assessment
as a basis for planning improvements.
- Executive Commitment We would then conduct a one-day executive
management workshop on Best Practices of IPD, focusing on organizational
issues, business strategy and implementation issues. The objective of this
session is to develop executive management commitment, an understanding
of the elements of IPD, and agreement on management's role in implementation.
- Implementation Planning and Consulting We would assist with
implementation planning and provide follow-up consulting . We would meet
with the management to discuss priorities, plans, and issues, to gain agreement
on IPD objectives and plans, and resolve the approach for improving the
product development process based on best practices. We would also help
establish a steering committee and an implementation team to guide the
implementation.
- Process Definition
& Improvement We would help to define and reengineer
the product development process by reviewing the current process (as-is),
identifying opportunities for improvement based on our knowledge of best
practices, working with company personnel to brainstorm
new approaches, defining new roles and responsibilities, documenting
the new development process (to-be), implementing improvements and new procedures. This
process would incorporate methodologies undertaken in the next step,
design reviews, and a project management process. We
would also help establish appropriate performance measurement systems.
- Tool and Techniques Implementation Based on priorities, we can
assist with the planning and implementation of design automation tools
(e.g., CAD/CAE/CAM), product data management systems. We can also assist
in the application of techniques such as QFD, design to cost, DFM, and
value analysis and provide on-the-job guidance. We can provide IPD training in Design for Manufacturability,
Design-to-Cost, QFD, and Value Analysis. Frequently, we find
that the focus on the customer and the team integration with QFD is the
best starting point.
- Portfolio & Pipeline Management In addition to executing projects
in an IPD manner, its important to undertake the best projects for the organization.
We would work with the management team to establish a portfolio management process to
select the optimum projects and a pipeline management process to manage the product
pipeline and avoid overloading resources. To the extent that a company strategy
needed to be defined as a basis for portfolio planning, we can facilitate the
product strategy development.
- Training We would customize our training course to the company's
business environment, products, processes, customers, team organization
and IPD approach and then conduct IPD workshop(s) for PDT/IPT members,
managers, other personnel based on the implementation plans and priorities.
- Team Launch We would conduct our Team
Launch Workshop for PDT/IPT members at the start of a new project.
We would provide guidance to
the teams, assist in applying lessons learned, and serve as a facilitator.
We can also assist in re-designing policies, procedures and systems related
to planning, budgeting, accounting, performance measurement, and compensation
to facilitate the effective operation of the teams.
- Facilitation and Support We can assist individual teams or programs
apply IPD practices. This may involve help in define
customer requirements and apply QFD, planning development projects,
applying DFM, design to cost, and using value analysis.
- Monitoring and Guidance We would spend several days each month, typically for a
period of six months, to provide guidance and monitor efforts to
implement IPD. We would participate in periodic steering committee
meetings to review and report on progress and identify and resolve
impediments or issues. We would guide and assist functional and program
management with implementation.
For further information, please contact:
Kenneth Crow
DRM Associates
2613 Via Olivera
Palos Verdes , CA 90274-2809, USA
Telephone: (310) 377-5569
Fax: (310) 377-1315
Email: kcrow@aol.com
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