A new product development model for SMEs : introducing agility to the plan-driven concurrent product development approach

Žužek, Tena (author), Gosar, Žiga (author), Kušar, Janez (author), Berlec, Tomaž (author)

In order to survive in today's highly competitive global market, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have had to transition from sequential to concurrent product development, which significantly shortens development cycles, reduces costs, and ensures high product quality. Despite its many benefits, concurrent product development is still based on detailed upfront planning and cannot address the challenges related to today's ever-growing uncertainty, constantly changing environment, and unstable requirements. A potential solution to this problem could be in more flexible and value-driven agile project management (APM) approaches, typical of software development. In this paper, we propose a new product development model specifically appropriate for SMEs that combines concurrent product development principles with APM elements. It is designed as a loop of five repetitive steps (macroplan, microplan, iteration activities, review, and retrospective) that are being executed within individual concurrent development loops. The application of the model is presented on a real case example of process development and small batch manufacture of a complex wiring harness. The study reveals many benefits of the proposed model, such as improved communication, faster detection of discrepancies, more effective problem solving, and greater flexibility. A positive impact on project success is also observed.

• Language: English
• Keywords: agile project management, concurrent product development, manufacturing, SMEs
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 21, art. 12159
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132861
• UDC: 658.5
• ISSN on article: 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su132112159
• COBISS.SI-ID: 83710979
• Publication date in RUL: 05.11.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Sustainability
• Shortened title: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5324897

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 04.11.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: agilno projektno vodenje, sočasni razvoj izdelka, proizvodnja, MSP

Projects

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport
• Project number: 1000-15-0510

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0270
• Name: Proizvodni sistemi, laserske tehnologije in spajanje materialov