Title: Define value: applying the first lean principle to product development

Authors: Muhammad S. Khan; Ahmed Al-Ashaab; Essam Shehab; Endris Kerga; Celine Martin; Paul Ewers

Addresses: Product and Service Innovation Centre, Manufacturing and Materials Department, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL, UK ' Product and Service Innovation Centre, Manufacturing and Materials Department, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL, UK ' Product and Service Innovation Centre, Manufacturing and Materials Department, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL, UK ' Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy ' WMG, International Manufacturing Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK ' Visteon Engineering Services, Chelmsford Business Park, 1 Springfield Lyons Approach, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 5LB, UK

Abstract: Researchers and practitioners have proposed that the application of lean thinking to product development (PD) and indeed systems engineering will bring much benefit. The first step in any application of lean thinking is to define value. This paper demonstrates the need to identify and represent value from a PD perspective, through a literature review and an industrial survey. The paper contributes a conceptual value framework which enables engineering companies to categorise and represent value in PD. An audio head-unit of an in-car entertainment system has been used to demonstrate an initial application of the research. An improved process for capturing and translating value from the customers' minds to designers and engineers would enable better elicitation of requirements and the development of value-focused products.

Keywords: lean thinking; customer value; innovation; creativity; voice of the customer; product development; value definition; engineering industry; audio head-units; in-car entertainment systems; value-focused products; product design; lean principles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2015.070868

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2015 Vol.21 No.1, pp.1 - 30

Received: 30 Jul 2013
Accepted: 11 Jan 2014

Published online: 31 Jul 2015 *

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