Don P. Clausing

Development and integration of winning technologies as key to competitive advantage

Technologies are a critical issue within product development, since technologies are the foundation for successful products. Technology development has suffered from a fuzzy innovation process based on trial and error in a high-pressure product development environment, often leaving no time for real innovation. Technologies developed under these circumstances seldom become superior, robust, mature and flexible-the criteria that are critical for technologies to provide competitive advantage. In this paper the idea is developed of a steady technology stream that is both separated from and appropriately integrated with the downstream product development. This enables companies to supply their product development programs with winning technologies at the right time. A four-phase process framework to support and catalyze the technology development cycle is introduced and described The proposed framework is based on an integration of six major development methodologies and aims at providing competitive advantage to companies by emphasizing superior, robust, mature, and flexible technologies.

An Evaluation of the Pugh Controlled Convergence Method

This paper evaluates a method known as Pugh Controlled Convergence and its relationship to recent developments in design theory. Computer executable models are proposed simulating a team of people involved in iterated cycles of evaluation, ideation, and investigation. The models suggest that: 1) convergence of the set of design concepts is facilitated by the selection of a strong datum concept; 2) iterated use of an evaluation matrix can facilitate convergence of expert opinion, especially if used to plan investigations conducted between matrix runs; and 3) ideation stimulated by the Pugh matrices can provide large benefits both by improving the set of alternatives and by facilitating convergence. As a basis of comparison, alternatives to Pugh’s methods were assessed such as using a single summary criterion or using a Borda count. The models we developed suggest that Pugh’s method, under a substantial range of assumptions, results in better design outcomes than those from these alternative procedures.© 2007 ASME

World-Class Concurrent Engineering

World-class concurrent engineering is the modern way to develop new products. It features basic concurrent engineering (improved process and teamwork), enhanced quality function deployment (enhanced QFD), and quality engineering using robust design (Taguchi methods). This replaces the many dysfunctions, some of which are elegant, of traditional practice. The result is much better functionality, lower costs, and shorter development time.

Reusability – the key to corporate agility: its integration with enhanced quality function deployment

Market presence, quality and costs are primarily decided during product development – improved in the last 15 years by the implementation of basic concurrent engineering and now further extended by enhanced quality function deployment (EQFD). Another key improvement is extended reusability, which enables greater product variety, while staying higher on learning curves. Reusability is best planned and managed by using a reusability matrix which is responsive to the voices of the customers and fully integrated into the total development process. Outlines the integration of the reusability planning and the required interface management into EQFD, and thus the integration into total quality development.