Title: New product development process management and benchmarking with competitors with special reference to Caterpillar 40/50T off-highway trucks in India

Authors: G. Saravanan; P. Vikkraman

Addresses: Anna University, Guindy, Chennai-600025, India; Caterpillar India Private Limited, Thiruvallur-602004, India ' Regional Centre, Anna University, Jothipuram, Coimbatore-641047, India

Abstract: One of the principal determinants of business success is technological innovation. New product development is one of the most important components of product policy and product management. Based on the Caterpillar new product development framework and competitive benchmarking, the research objectives of the study are confined to evaluate the adherence of process steps in each of the phases of new product development framework; to plan and build prototype and pilots of the new model of trucks and evaluate the performance of the trucks and to carry out production studies of the new model of trucks with the competitor machines and generate production study data to substantiate the advantages of the new trucks over the competitors. The results of this study determine how systematic adherence to the new product development process at Caterpillar for the introduction of 40/50 ton rear dump trucks has paved the way for the successful production launch of its products.

Keywords: competitive benchmarking; new product development; NPD; production study; product launch; process management; competitive benchmarking; Caterpillar; off-highway trucks; India; rear dump trucks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2015.066778

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2015 Vol.29 No.1/2, pp.66 - 77

Received: 12 Dec 2013
Accepted: 06 Mar 2014
Published online: 05 Jan 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article