PD-Trak Product Development Process Definition

The PD-Trak Project Portfolio Management System provides a high degree of flexibility to configure the software tool to your product development process. In addition, PD-Trak includes Best Practices-Based Process Templates that you can use to consider improvements to your process or use as a starting point to quickly define your process and implement this software tool. These templates may be adjusted to ideally fit your company environment and project needs.

The Project Process Templates (PPT) define the standardized process that your organization wants all projects using this process to adhere to. There are a series of pages that define different aspects of the process including phase names, gates or milestones that separate each phase, tasks and document deliverables in each phase, responsibilities for tasks and documents, document templates, metrics, pre-assigned resources based on the type of project process, etc.

Multiple processes can be defined. For example, you can have a more comprehensive process for a totally new product; a streamlined version of this process for a product modification, product upgrade or product line extension; and a separate process for technology development or platform development project that does not directly lead to a new product. If a product has embedded software, you can have a process for software development and integration.

Defining Phases and Gates

While PD-Trak is built around a stage / phase-gate methodology, milestones can also be used to define the completion of each project phase. The stage/phase-gate process is the framework for implementing a structured project management approach. The stage / phase-gate process defines a sequence of phases and gates that each project must pass through, providing a roadmap for the consistent, successful execution of projects.

Defining your new product development process begins with the project phases and gates or milestones that separate each phase.

Each phase has an objective statement, a set of required tasks and deliverable documents.  This information helps organizations in three ways: 1) it minimizes the risk that the project team will overlook important tasks that are needed for project success, 2) it makes it easier to follow the defined process, and 3) it defines the points at which the management team will assess progress and make decisions whether to continue investing in the project.  The process guides the project team to provide the information necessary to support this decision making process.

An organization’s product development process (phases, tasks, deliverables and responsibilities) is defined in PD-Trak. Multiple processes can be established in Project Process Templates, e.g., new product development, product upgrade or product line extension, technology development or platform development). This enables a common process to be followed for a particular type of project, helping with compliance with ISO 9001.

Task Plans

Once the process has been defined, the Task Plans are used to help the team plan and manage the project.  The Task Plans define the project tasks that must be addressed in each phase and the documents that must be created or updated in each phase.  The Task Plans provide a common frame of reference for project planning, and ensure that important tasks (across all functions of the company) are not forgotten and are conducted consistently.  These tasks can be used for as the basis for scheduling within PD-Trak or exported to Microsoft Project® for detailed project planning.

For further information or a demo, contact Kenneth Crow at DRM Associates
Phone +1 310-377-5569
Email: k.crow@npd-solutions.com