Title: On the application of lean principles in Product Development: a commentary on models and practices

Authors: Torgeir Welo

Addresses: Department of Engineering Design and Materials, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Richard Birkeland's veg 2B, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway

Abstract: Over the past decade, attempts have been made to apply lean principles to improve capabilities in Product Development (PD). However, methodologies from lean production are not directly applicable to PD. It is, therefore, desirable to establish a deeper understanding of lean PD as a basis for development of a generic framework. This paper gives an overview of lean PD followed by a discussion on its key component: defining (customer) value. Findings from prior art have been systemised into a framework that includes six key components, along with an assessment tool that has been used with select companies to identify areas where lean PD would provide the greater potential for payback. Examples of results from these analyses are given.

Keywords: lean manufacturing; lean principles; lean product development; value-added; core characteristics; modelling; customer value.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2011.042027

International Journal of Product Development, 2011 Vol.13 No.4, pp.316 - 343

Published online: 27 Feb 2015 *

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