New product definition process with product lifecycle management concept approach.
Vukovic, Aleksandar ; Mikac, Tonci ; Ikonic, Milan 等
1. INTRODUCTION
The only constant in the business world today is change. To survive
and prosper in these surroundings, businesses must be able to quickly
adapt to changes in the market place. They must identify and address
problems, leverage technology and customer requirements faster than
their competitors. Intense international competition and rapid
technological change requires that companies be lean and dynamic.
According to this the significance of Product Lifecycle Management is
increasing, especially for companies in the high technology industries
like automotive, telecommunications, and other industries where the new
product development and production planning process need to be faster.
In development departments widespread use of CAD technology leads to
supplementation of the hardware models or prototypes by digital models.
These models are tested in the similar way like prototypes.
Modern industry in a networked operational business environment
almost invariably uses various information systems, like Enterprise
Resource Planning systems, as aids in production planning, delivery and
customer service, (Antti, S. & Anselmi, I., 2005). When it comes to
implementation of new products, as well as reengineering already
implemented ones, this kind of information systems are not sufficient,
because in these processes enterprise becomes involved in product design
generating the idea, developing concept, prototyping and manufacturing.
Integration of tools like CAD, CAM, CAPP and CIM with ERP and other
concepts generate PLM, which is not just about a software and
technology, but also about business strategy, (Stackpole, B. 2003).
Conventional methods of planning and development are no longer
sufficient to speed up planning and development processes, to reach
ambitious budget targets and to manage the increasing complexity of new
products. The solution lies in PLM which represents the creation of the
central management system of all product and technology data and the
technology used to access this information and knowledge, (Stark, J.
2006).
2. PLM DEFINITION
Product Lifecycle Management is defined as the set of activities
for managing company's products across the complete lifecycle, from
the early stages of product conception to the final disposal or
recycling of the product (Stark, J. 2006).
[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]
That means that PLM includes various activities from various
functions of the enterprise, as shown in figure 1. PLM, as we look it
today, is relatively new concept for manufacturing companies, and it
allows companies to manage their products across their lifecycles. PLM
helps companies getting their products to market faster, provides better
support for their use, and manage end of life better. In today's
highly competitive global markets, companies must meet the increasing
demands of customers to rapidly and continually improve their products
and services, (Stark, J. 2006). During product development processes,
collaboration has become a common practice between different departments
and companies that are involved in their activities. PLM tools can
facilitate collaboration among distributed teams within the context of
an extended enterprise, (Luo, Y. 2007).
3. PLM TOOLS AND METHODS
In the PLM concept great number of tools and methods are used for
solving specific problems in the industrial enterprises which are
confronted with new product development and innovation of products that
are already in production and in the market. In this article, and the
research that was carried out before it, we observed first stage only of
the product lifecycle. First stage of product lifecycle encompasses
research, development, design, analysis and planning.
The advantage of using PLM for first stage product development
derives from the enterprise ability to effectively use knowledge's,
skills and experiences from the entire network of employees, suppliers,
vendors, buyers and customers. Similarly to ERP, PLM uses the same
technology but with orientation to product in all stages.
[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]
The use of collaborative tools in the product development
environment has been extensive in recent years. However, in other phases
of product lifecycle there is no systematic methodology available for
collaboration among knowledge owners, (Ameri, F., Dutta, D. 2005).
Figure 2 shows the procedure for new product definition process,
from the basic idea or concept for the new product, or innovation of the
existing one, to final realization of the product in the manufacturing
facilities. Some of the tools the PLM concept uses in the first stage of
product lifecycle are named in the dashed boxes.
PLM uses product design methodology that shapes products, having in
mind future requirements for the basic design, technological and
commercial requirements. These methodologies, among others, are the
following:
* Design for manufacture and assembly, DFMA.
* Design for Six Sigma, DFSS.
* Engineering to order, ETO.
* New product development and introduction, NPDI.
* Concurrent engineering.
* Concurrent design.
DFMA represents the methodology for simplification of current and
future product design and manufacturing process to achieve cost savings,
especially in the manufacturing and assembly processes. DFSS is the
methodology for developing products which will have needed
characteristics for future efficient usage of six sigma tools. ETO
concept is used for engineering customized products with specific
requirements. Customers want products that fit their needs and product
that are created on their timelines. NPDI encompasses all tools and
methodologies mentioned before and it is an integration method.
Concurrent Engineering is a systematic approach to integrated product
development that emphasizes the response to customer expectations. It
embodies team values of cooperation, trust and sharing in such a manner
that decision making is by consensus, involving all perspectives in
parallel, from the beginning of the product life cycle. That takes us to
the Concurrent Design concept which uses concurrent engineering
methodology to perform effective and fast product design studies and
research using flexible teams with members from most enterprise
functions included in PLM system, as shown in figure 1.
4. CONCLUSION
In the current business environment it is necessary for industrial
enterprises to innovate, develop, plan and produce new products faster
than the competition, and that means that the whole organization needs
to rethink, reorganize, plan and perfect processes to satisfy the
customers and market needs, always having in mind to keep the processes
costs low.
The idea for new product is doomed if it is not objectively
reviewed according to given requirements. That happens when new product
ideas are selected according to subjective parameters, and also, if the
process of new product definition is not followed.
In this article the process of new product development and PLM
tools that follow it, is presented in its simplest form, but further
research needs to be done in order to define the importance of each
requirement for the product. According to overall product market success
of a product every requirement has its own importance and that represent
the basis for further research.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is result of researches on scientific project supported
by Ministry of Science, education and sport, Republic of Croatia,
Modeling of advanced production structures at intelligent manufacture
069-0692976-1740.
6. REFERENCES
Ameri, F.; Dutta, D. (2005). Product Lifecycle Management: Closing
the Knowledge Loops, Available from:
http://www.cadanda.com/V2No5_01.pdf, Acessed: 2008-04-15
Antti, S.; Anselmi, I. (2005). Product Lifecycle Management,
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Luo, Y.; (2007). Cooperative Design, Visualization, and
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ISBN:3540747796, New York
Stackpole, B.; (2003). There's a new App in Town, CIO Magazine, Available
from: http://cio.com, Accessed: 200802-10
Stark, J.; (2006). Product lifecycle management: 21st century
paradigm for product realization, Springer, ISBN:1852338105, London
