Title: A product development process for linked management: application cases of electrical home appliance products

Authors: Michiya Morita, Shigemi Ochiai

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro Toshima-Ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan. ' Jonquil Consuting Inc., 2-17-18 Honmachi Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 151-0071, Japan

Abstract: The effective linkage between necessary functions is critically important to implement a business strategy and achieve satisfactory performances. The linkage covers the essential activities from upstream actions (technology and product development) to downstream ones (procurement, manufacturing and selling). We propose that the construction of the effective linkage starts with the process of product development and requires the consistent effort to systematise the process based on the case study of the home appliance division of a Japanese electrical appliance manufacturing company. The case would be suggestive to many large Japanese companies not-least part of which business consists of the matured products facing severe competition.

Keywords: NPD; new product development; functions linkage; front-end loading; electrical appliances; home appliances; Japan; appliance manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.027770

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.18 No.4, pp.356 - 370

Published online: 10 Aug 2009 *

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