Modelling engineering change management in a new product development supply chain

Abstract

The changes within a new product development (NPD) process are handled differently depending on the stage of the project. The changes during the initial stages of the project are addressed by design iterations, while the changes after the product design is complete are addressed using a formal engineering change management (ECM) process. The ECM process is a complex process, especially under a collaborative environment, where various independent entities work together for a common cause of product development. The interactions between the NPD and ECM processes have rarely been investigated in the research community. In this paper, we attempt to study the interactions between the various NPD and ECM process parameters by modelling the processes and simulated the model to understand the parameter interactions. The organisations in a supply chain have been characterised based on their interactions with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) during the NPD process. The organisation process templates representing the NPD and ECM processes of each type of organisation in the supply chain have been modelled. The templates have been used to develop a simulation model representing the NPD and ECM processes for a supply chain. The process variables, such as processing rates, resources, resource composition, resource allocation priority, processing quality and phase overlap, have been included in the model. The results indicate that most of the variables and interactions among the variables have a significant influence on the NPD lead time. By identifying the status of the NPD process, the decision-makers can use these results to develop appropriate management policies to govern their product development projects.

Pilot Error? Managerial Decision Biases as Explanation for Disruptions in Aircraft Development

“…System dynamics is eminently suited to investigate these processes because it is equally as nonlinear, feedback oriented, and delay sensitive as the new product development environment; thus, it can effectively capture the complexity of this environment. Not surprisingly, a considerable body of system dynamics knowledge exists related to dynamic behavior in new product development projects (e.g., Abdel‐Hamid, ; Abdel‐Hamid, Sengupta, & Swett, ; Ford & Sterman, ; Lin et al, ; Rahmandad & Weiss, ; Reddi & Moon, ; Repenning, ). In 2007, Lyneis and Ford wrote a review paper on project management applications of system dynamics.…”

Hybrid modelling of MTO/ETO manufacturing environments for performance assessment

“…This model is a refined version of the model by Balaji and James (2005), by considering the competence loss. The SD model by Reddi and Moon (2013) addresses the interactions between the NPD and the engineering change management processes at the supply chain level. Different supply chain actors interact with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in different stages of the NPD process.…”

Change Control of Key Capability Factors in Product Research and Development

“…Do et al [2008] felt that the propagation procedure maintains the consistency of product data during collaboration between various design, manufacturing and customer support departments, which have disparate product data views. Reddi and Moon [2013] stated that ECM is a complex process, especially in a collaborative environment, in which independent entities work together toward the common goal of product development. They used the interactions between new product development (NPD) and ECM parameters by modeling the processes and simulated the model to examine the parameter interactions.…”