Introductory description

Innovation and introduction of new products to the market is one of the fundamental processes in industry. Design and development and introduction of new products is hence the key to renewal and regeneration of industry and the long term competitiveness and survival of manufacturing companies.

Intensification of competition, rapidly changing technologies and shorter product life cycles, require an integrated approach to management of product development in order to create better quality products with enhanced capabilities, at attractive prices with compressed time to market cycles. Today customers often buy products without making a conscious distinction between tangible product, service or brand.
This module concentrates on the management of the processes of product design, development, and introduction as an integrated whole from ideas and concept stage to customer, and in service.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

 Product development process
 Effective Design Management
 Lean New Product Introduction
 The relationship of tangible product and brand
 Management of creativity
 Concurrent Engineering
 Organisation for effective product design and development
 Design protection and intellectual property rights
 Case study
 Tools, Techniques, and Technologies including;
- Concept generation and Selection
- Design for Assembly/Manufacture
- Life Cycle Costing and Design to Cost
- Design Validation
 Industrial Experiences
 User / Customer View
 Innovative Products

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identifying and defining the role of product design and development process in manufacturing industry.
• Defining the components of product design and development processes and their relationships from concept to customer.
• Defining the design management process and how innovation can be successfully brought to the market place to satisfy customers in an effective manner.
• Undertaking a methodical approach to the management of product development.
• Differentiating between the important methods, technologies, latest trends, tools and techniques of product design and development and how they can be effectively utilised.

Indicative reading list

Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation, Burgelman, Christensen and Wheelwright,
pub McGraw-Hill (2008)
Portfolio Management for New Products, Cooper, Edgett and Kleinschmidt, pub Perseus Books (2001)
Statistics for Experimenters by Box, Hunter & Hunter, pub. Wiley. (2005)
Statistical Quality Control by Grant & Leavenworth, pub. McGraw-Hill. (2000)

Subject specific skills

Lean Thinking, New product Introduction Process design, Project Management, design idea generation, selection and management.

Transferable skills

Communication, organization, teamwork, leadership