Product Introduction

Course details

Accelerated New Product Introduction has now been proven and 'matured' by large industries. This programme (duration depends on your precise needs) aims to bring the benefits of the method to all firms, large and small alike. This systematic approach to managing such projects, and the application of Simultaneous Engineering methods, has brought huge benefits to the Companies in question, including:

• Time from concept to full-scale production reduced by 75%
• 50% reduction in project costs
• Fewer engineering changes needed to produce a product of acceptable quality
• 50% reduction in assembly costs
• Increased sales through being first to market

Who Should Attend

Managers, Trainers, Improvement Facilitators and those technical, operational and other staff responsible for designing, developing and bringing to market new or updated products.

Programme Content

The programme modules include:

• Group Exercise: Escape from Crab Island (a group exercise demonstrating the need for Teamwork and Project Management to effectively deliver results within resource constraints)
• Simultaneous Engineering - This is an integrated approach to new product introduction. Using a multifunctional Project Team, it ensures that the research, design, development, manufacturing, purchasing, marketing and quality functions all work in parallel from concept to product launch.
• Project Targets - The Project Team is given specific targets (output) at the outset. These might include a 50% reduction in new product lead-time, zero defects, simplified process controls, reduced set-up times and design / parts standardisation.
• Introduction to Project Management
  • The Development of Modern Project Management
  • Overview of Project Management based on PMBOK (the U S Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge) Standard
  • Review of current Best Practice
• Project Definition
• The KISS Principal
• Project Scope
• Defining the Deliverables
• Identifying the Stakeholders
• The Role of the Sponsor/Manager/Team
• Agreeing the Reporting Procedures
• Identifying Milestones
• Work Breakdown Structure
• Defining Task Relationships
• Resources and Estimation
• Risk, Contingency and Costs
• The Critical Path Method & Resource Levelling
• Project Planning
• Computerised Project Management To allocate tasks, establish task's duration and costs and to identify the critical path. Then to monitor progress (and costs) and to identify where additional resources are needed to meet key dates and deadlines.
• Quality Function Deployment - Being based on the customer's specification, and drawn up without interpretation, it ensures that the product meets the requirements exactly.
• Design Failure Modes & Effects Analysis - Eliminates design weaknesses or reduced them to acceptable levels.
• Process Failure Modes & Effects Analysis - Similarly eliminates or reduces foreseen difficulties in manufacture. This tool is often used during a product's life to aid a continuous improvement programme.
• Taguchi Methods - To achieve a robust design unaffected by production process variables.
• Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA) - With manufacturing capabilities in mind, to design out problems - especially the ones encountered previously!
• Capability Studies - To confirm the process' capability of producing components within tolerances.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) - to ensure the ongoing capability of producing components within tolerances.
• Group Exercise: Escape from Crab Island (a repeat to see how much we’ve learned)