Title: Planning for new products in the extended enterprise: the automotive scenario

Authors: Antonio Hidalgo

Addresses: E.T.S. Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2. 28006 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Global trade barriers have largely been removed. Manufacturers are finding that their distinguishable markets are swiftly evolving into a single, global market place. This can create new business opportunities, but domestic markets are no longer protected as more and more companies are competing internationally. To compete in this new scenario, companies are increasingly focused on covering all aspects of the product development process as their core business and on decentralising other tasks using business units that operate more or less independently. The product development process in extended enterprises is increasingly organised in networks of suppliers, manufacturers and users, evolving towards service companies. The automotive scenario constitutes a significant case to introduce new techniques in the planning of new products.

Keywords: new product development; NPD; technological innovation; extended enterprise; automotive products; automobile industry; product planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2006.009372

International Journal of Product Development, 2006 Vol.3 No.2, pp.214 - 231

Published online: 23 Mar 2006 *

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