Title: A road map for implementing lean and agile techniques in SMEs product development teams

Authors: Marco Leite; A.J. Baptista; A.M.R. Ribeiro

Addresses: IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; ISCTE Business School, IUL, Av. Forcas Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal ' INEGI - Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal ' IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1040-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: The aim of this research paper is to formulate a road map for implementation of lean techniques within SMEs product development (PD) teams, identifying barriers to change and explaining possible drivers for successful implementation. The research methodology necessary to develop the road map - the IPID cycle - is a combination of different approaches. It combines a literature review, an initial quantitative study with questionnaires, informal interviews and direct observation of companies' practices of five different manufacturing companies organised in a consortium. Like any other case study methodology, it suffers from generalisation issues, but we expect that the proposed road map is applicable whenever managers need to introduce changes inside their PD teams. Also, we found that a consortium arrangement can be highly positive to the implementation of the proposed road map. Finally, we found that the application of the road map to SMEs PD teams is somewhat different from big companies' implementations and discuss the observed particularities of these findings.

Keywords: operations strategy; new product development; NPD; lean manufacturing; agile manufacturing; organisational change; manufacturing SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; product development teams; consortium; change management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2016.076922

International Journal of Product Development, 2016 Vol.21 No.1, pp.20 - 40

Accepted: 23 Jan 2016
Published online: 07 Jun 2016 *

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