Transcript Concurrent Engineering

What Will Be Covered






Concurrent Engineering Defined
Brainstorming
Nuts and Bolts
How It Works
Example of Concurrent Engineering
An Exercise
Concurrent Engineering Defined
1st Definition
“The simultaneous performance of product design and process design.
Typically, concurrent engineering involves the formation of crossfunctional teams. This allows engineers and managers of different
disciplines to work together simultaneously in developing product
and process design.”
Foster, S. Thomas. Managing Quality: An Integrative Approach. Upper Saddle River New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Concurrent Engineering Defined
2nd Definition
“Concurrent engineering methodologies permit the separate tasks of the
product development process to be carried out simultaneously
rather than sequentially. Product design, testing, manufacturing and
process planning through logistics, for example, are done side-byside and interactively. Potential problems in fabrication, assembly,
support and quality are identified and resolved early in the design
process.”
Izuchukwu, John. “Architecture and Process :The Role of Integrated Systems in Concurrent
Engineering.” Industrial Management Mar/Apr 1992: p. 19-23.
Brainstorming
Brainstorm some ideas about Concurrent Engineering
How can this tool be used in your organization?
Nuts and Bolts

Basic Tenets of Concurrent Engineering
-Doing things simultaneously
-Focusing on the Process
-Converting hierarchical organizations into teams
Nuts and Bolts

Basic Goals of Concurrent Engineering
-Dramatic improvements in time to market and costs
-Improvements to product quality and performance
-Do more with less
Nuts and Bolts

Concurrent Engineering = Teamwork
-The more communication exists, the better the product.

Balances Needs
-Customer, Supplier, Engineers, Marketing, and
Manufacturing needs.
Nuts and Bolts

Management
-Good mgmt is vitally important
-Encourage communication
-Strong mgmt support
How it Works

3 Main Areas to Concurrent Engineering
1) People
2) Process
3) Technology
How It Works

Area 1: People
-Formation of teams
-Training
How It Works

Area 2: Process
-Changes in your processes
-Be open to change
How It Works

Area 3: Technology
-CAD/CAM
-Software. Hardware, and Networking
How It Works

Basic Summary
-Most important aspect is People
-Process and Technology: Don’t be afraid of change
Real World Example
Titan Linkabit
-Develops circuit boards
- CAE technical manager, Chip Ciradot
Real World Example
Titan Linkabit
-Old CAD system: 21 weeks to develop 8-layer circuit
board.
-Implemented new CAE tools and CE
-New circuit board: 12 weeks to develop, 10 layers, twice
the functionality of the 8 layer.
A Short Exercise


Come up with some ideas as to how implementing
Concurrent Engineering could be useful in your
organization?
How will you form teams? Open communication? Change
processes? Implement technology?
Summary




Concurrent Engineering: Simultaneous development of
product and process.
Most important aspect is communication and formation
of teams
Management support is vitally important
Don’t be afraid to change current processes and
technologies
Bibliography
Foster, S. Thomas. Managing Quality: An Integrative Approach. Upper Saddle River
New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Izuchukwu, John. “Architecture and Process :The Role of Integrated Systems in
Concurrent Engineering.” Industrial Management Mar/Apr 1992: p. 19-23.
Litsikas, Mary. “Break Old Boundaries with Concurrent Engineering.” Quality Apr
1997: p. 54-56.
Mills, Robert. “Concurrent engineering: Alive and well.” CAE. Aug 1993: p. 41-44