PD-TRAK™ NPD PROJECT / PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DRM Associates

PD-Trak™ NPD Project/Portfolio Management System

The PD-Trak™ New Product Development (NPD) Project/Portfolio Management System is a set of tools and a configurable software solution for managing product development projects with a stage/phase-gate process. It can be used for discrete and process-oriented manufactured products, software development, and service development. It provides tools and a common document repository to support product teams as well as portfolio management, resource management and performance measurement tools for executive management.

Its functions include the following:

• Helps to plan and justify NPD projects and ensure their continued viability throughout the development cycle
• Guides teams through the NPD process with task list assignments, task statusing, and deliverable templates
• Supports a stage/phase-gate process, coordinates the dates and required information for stage/phase-gate reviews, and ensures that appropriate information (e.g., a business case, marketing plans, etc.) is considered at each gate and throughout the project
• Facilitates team collaboration with contact lists, team calendars, shared documents, task statusing and collaborative tools
• Provides tools to support product and process development including bills of material, quality function deployment (QFD), target costing, failure modes and effects analysis, and control plans
• Provides a repository & document management function for non-technical project data
• Assists management in planning a balanced product portfolio and establishing project priorities
• Plans project resources to determine availability of resources and consider actions to respond to resource requirements assuring a smooth flow of projects through the pipeline
• Provides a wide range of metrics to measure performance of the project, the product, and the overall project portfolio

The PD-Trak™ System may be configured to match any NPD process that comprises a serial set of project stages or phases separated by gate reviews or other key milestones or checkpoints.

While we provide a pre-defined product development process based on best practices, the process can be configured to support your existing or redesigned NPD or product lifecycle process. Multiple processes can be supported, e.g., standard development process, a streamlined process for product line extensions/modifications, OEM proposals, technology development projects, etc.

PD-Trak Pricing and Implementation

PD-Trak license fees, configuration, software customization, and implementation consulting fees are as follows:

Implementation and deployment of the PD-Trak NPD project/process management system normally consists of the following steps:

1. Review current process and deliverable documents and recommend improvements based on best practices
2. Define process and document templates based on current/improved process (task plans, gantt chart, product definition/specification, product verification, marketing plan, manufacturing plan, etc.)
3. Review templates and documents with users
4. Set-up pilot project
5. Conduct software training for:
   • Product team members
   • Project managers
   • Projects administrator
   • Executive management
6. Facilitate and support projects with PD-Trak and product development tools

PD-Trak can be configured, installed and deployed in a medium-sized organization in approximately two weeks time with approximately ten days of our consulting effort.

For further information or to schedule a demonstration, please contact us at: k.crow@pd-trak.com or at 310-377-5569.

© 2005, PD-Trak Solutions