Aiding Product Development: A Method on Organization, Content and Process

Aiding Product Development: A Method on Organization, Content and Process

Janssen, S.H.J.

Smulders, F.E.H.M. (mentor)
Van Egmond, R. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Strategic Product Design

2010-12-06

This graduation report has the main purpose of making ExSilent’s development more efficient and predictable. In doing so it provides understanding on the current process and recommendations on the future process. From a literature study two distinct approaches in researching product development were found. Both of these approaches were found to be suitable for this project. Firstly, the rational analytical approach focuses on the steps taken in the process and searches for a standardized generic structure. Secondly, the constructive approach that questions the generalized or generic process. When applying a rational approach it was found that the Standard Operating Procedure —that prescribes how there should be developed— was criticized and did not suffice in aiding development . The procedure was not used during development, but it was primarily used to document development for regulatory approval. In analyzing how the actual development processes are executed in ExSilent two case studies showed that development is often unbound and milestones are missing or unclear in the development process. Prototypes play a dominant role and are the stepping stones in the dynamic execution of development. Formal prescription and actual developments differ. Moreover, the people in ExSilent also differ in their description of the development process. In applying a social constructive approach the development team was asked what the positive and obstructive events a the current development process are. From these events four problem areas were found. First, the non matching expectation to realizations between R&D en Marketing-Sales. Second, the chaotic materialization and unclear purpose of prototypes. Third, not having a clear objective or way to maintain focus. Fourth and last, the missing shared understanding of development as a whole. The discrepancies between formal, actual and individual product development and the four problem areas framed the core problem. The core problem is: Limited shared understanding of the product and process in development obstructs ExSilent’s development. The shifting between concrete representations (prototypes) and abstract reflection of them is chaotic and random. This obstruction limits the shared understanding on the process of combining knowledge. In providing the shared understanding multiple models were created that can be used as shared representations of the different aspects of product development. The aspects where shared understanding is to be created are: First, how the process is organized in terms of who should be involved. Second, what is the content of the project in terms of the developed product. Third and last, what is the process and how should development be executed. ExSilent can increase efficiency and predictability by early involvement of the user, retailer, manufacturing and marketing. Within the organization minimizing the chances of assumptions or unrealistic expectations and outside the organization to get feedback and insights on the product in development. Finding an agreement on what is being developed can be reached by discussing the to be developed product over three levels, (1.)What is the user’s benefit? (2.)What is the actual physical product? (3.)What is the augmented non physical product? Discussing them separately provides a shared understanding, focus and objectives. This in addition provides an opportunity for validating if the end product resembles the earlier stated objectives. The usage of intermediary objects (eg. prototypes) can be made more efficient by defining what ought to be tested, verified and/or validated with these objects. In executing a project, ExSilent should aim at determining a realistic project term. In addition to this report ExSilent is recommended to create shared objects that visualize: how development is organized, what is being developed, and what is the process and status of execution is in the steps taken, the steps planned and difference between them. ExSilent is provided different tools and a book on how these tools should be used in creating shared objects.

abstraction level
product development
hearing aids
organization
process

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5eb28eee-a25c-4fe0-a8d0-8caf009249bc

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2010 Janssen, S.H.J.