Collaborative Product Development: How to Make the "Buy Design" Decision?
Le Dain, Marie-Anne; Calvi, Richard; Cheriti, Sandra
Type:
Year:
2009
Editor:
Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author:
Series:
ICED
Section:
Design Organization and Management
Page(s):
73-84
Abstract:
This article focuses on the design or buy design decision process and aims at proposing a structured approach enabling to support the decision-making within a new product development (NPD) project team by using a action research approach. The tool associated to this approach mobilizes the Supplier Involvement Matrix in order to identify the different situations of supplier involvement and is based on two dimensions: (1) the supplier's autonomy level in product development and (2) the development risk linked to the outsourced item. In this matrix, five types of customer/supplier involvement in collaborative NPD projects are distinguished. The usefulness of our tool is illustrated on a detailed case study: the collaborative development of a shorting connector between a Schneider Electric NPD team and a supplier. Several managerial implications and lessons learnt have been identified following this case study. First, this tool provides an operational measure of the development risk associated to a buy design decision and a clear and formal identification of the project needs. Secondly, its use may facilitate the coordination between product design engineers and purchasing agents.
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