Title: Analysing telecom companies using the Toyota NPD model

Authors: Janne Harkonen, Pekka Belt, Matti Mottonen, Pekka Kess, Harri Haapasalo

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland

Abstract: The telecom sector is facing great challenges in its New Product Development (NPD) as products are getting increasingly complicated and customer segments more fragmented. This study uses a benchmark from the automotive industry to obtain ideas for improving NPD and requirements management in the telecom sector. Toyota was chosen as the benchmark as the automotive industry has been a large volume, mature and competitive business sector, and Toyota has been successful in streamlining its business processes and in meeting customer needs. The study clarifies the similarities and the main differences between interviewed telecom companies and NPD practices at Toyota.

Keywords: requirements management; benchmarking; new product development; telecoms NPD; automotive NPD; lean; product development; Toyota; mobile communications; telecommunications industry; automobile industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2009.024392

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2009 Vol.7 No.5, pp.544 - 561

Published online: 02 Apr 2009 *

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