From project to process management in engineering : an empirically-based framework for the analysis of product development

66 Pages·1992·1.7 MB·English

by  Adler, Paul S

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From Project to Process Management in
Engineermg: An Empincallv-based Framework
for the Analysis of Product Development
P. Adler, A. Mandelbaum, E. Schwerer
and
Vien Nguyen
WP# 3503-92-MSA October, 1992
MASSACHUSETTS
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
50 MEMORIAL DRIVE
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139

From Project to Process Management in
Engineermg: An Empiricallv-based Framework
for the Analysis of Product Development
P. Adler, A. Mandelbaum, E. Schwerer
and
Vien Nguyen
WP# 3503-92-MSA October, 1992
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From Project to Process Management in Engineering:
Strategies for Improving Development Cycle Time
Paul Adler^ Ain Mandelbaurn
Department of Management and Organization Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management
School of Business Administration Technion
University of Southern California Haifa, Israel 32000
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1421
Vien Nguyen Elizabeth Schwerer
Sloan School of Management Graduate School of Busniess
Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology Stanford University
Cambridge, MA 02139 Stanford, CA 94305-5015
Abstract
We proposed in a recent article that a product development organization can be analyzed
as a system composed of more or less repetitive processes of activities. Taking this process
view, we investigate in this paper how to apply process models to better manage development
cycle time. Through simulation experiments, we assess the potential impact ofvarious changes
in the operation ofa sample product development organization. From the eight scenarios that
we analyze, we are able to draw some insights and recommendations for reducing project
completion times.
October. 1992
^ Author's names are listed in alphabetical order.