Abstract
Focus groups have been used as one method of collecting data on how practitioners view Concurrent Engineering and its implementation. Focus groups are a controversial research method, but their use provides a rich source of primary data, which can be supplemented by other data collection methods. The output from the focus groups shows the issues which Concurrent Engineering practitioners consider to be important for Concurrent Engineering implementation: senior management commitment, implementation planning, launching a multi-functional pilot team fast, and having a continuous improvement process. The need for extensive organisational analysis prior to implementation, for using team profiling techniques, early development of a new product strategy and investment in new technology have been understated by focus group participants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Coughlan P D, Voss C A 1992 Review of Practice and Issues in Simultaneous Engineering in the UK, London Business School, July (supported by SERC Grant References GR/G62400; GR/G63605)
Belson D and Nickelson D 1992 Measuring the economics of concurrent engineering. In CE & CALS Conference and Exposition, pp 539–549
Hartley J and Mortimer J 1990 Simultaneous Engineering: The Management Guide, Industrial Newsletters Ltd, Dunstable
Barton R J 1994 Concurrent Development of Radar Systems. In IEE Colloquium on Current Developments in Concurrent Engineering — Methodologies and Tools, (Digest Number 1994/140)
Computervision 1994 Concurrent Engineering: Winning the argument is just the beginning. Computer Aided Draughting and Design, pp 12–13
Ellis D 1992 Success at the drawing board. Infomatics, March, pp 47–54
Evans S, Lettice F E and Smart P 1994 Concurrent Engineering — Key Implementation Issues. In: Kidd P T, Karwowski W (eds) Advances in Agile Manufacturing, IOS Press
Manton S M 1991 Concurrent Engineering for the Land Rover Discovery. In: CALS Europe 91 Conference Proceedings, Part 2, pp 593–598
Nichols K 1994 Developing with the Best: Survey of product development within UK industry. World Class Design to Manufacture, 1(2): 7–12
Benchmark Research 1994 The 1994 Manufacturing Attitudes Survey — Management Summary, Initiated by Computervision, Coventry
Bowden W and Lettice F 1996 Changing the Organisation Through People at Measurement Technology Ltd. In: Backhouse C J, Brookes N J (eds) Concurrent Engineering: What’s Working Where, Gower/Design Council, Aldershot, pp 149–162
Lettice F E 1995 Concurrent Engineering: A Team-Based Approach to Rapid Implementation, PhD Thesis, The CIM Institute, Cranfield University
Smart P K, Lettice F E and Evans S 1996 A UK Based Empirical Investigation of the Factors Contributing to a Successful Implementation of Concurrent Engineering. In:, Managing Integrated Manufacturing (MIM) Second International Conference, 26–28 June
Drayton J L, Fahad G A and Tynan A C 1989 The focus group: a controversial research technique. Graduate Management Research, pp 34–51
Krueger R A 1988 Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA
Hoinville G and Jowell R 1978 Survey Research Practice, Heinemann Educational Books, London
Tull D S and Hawkins D I 1987 Marketing Research: Measurement and Method. MacMillan Publishing Company, New York
Newman V 1994 The Creative Manager: A Toolbox for Problem Solvers, Cranfield University: The CIM Institute.
Byrd J and Wood R T 1991 Implementation Strategies for Integrated Product Development In: CALS Europe 91 Conference Proceedings, Part 2, pp 549–560
Knodle M S 1991 Transitioning to a Concurrent Engineering environment, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIAA-91-3151
Smith P G and Reinertsen D G 1991 Developing Products in Half the Time., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York
Zangwill W I 1993 Lightning strategies for innovation: How the world’s best firms create new products, Lexington Books, MacMillan, New York
Takeuchi H and Nonaka I 1986 The New New Product Development Game — Stop Running the Relay Race and Take Up Rugby. Harvard Business Review, January/February, pp 137–146
Costanzo L 1993 Breaking out is hard to do. Engineering, April, pp 25–26
Karandikar H M, Fotta M E, Lawson M, Wood R T 1993 Assessing Organisational Readiness for Implementing Concurrent Engineering Practices and Collaborative Technologies In: Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, Morgantown, WV, pp 83–93
Carter D E and Baker B S 1992 Concurrent Engineering: The product development environment for the 1990s, Addison Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA
Belbin R M 1981 Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail, Heinemann, London
Charney C 1991 Time to Market — Reducing Product Lead Time, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Michigan
Garrett R W 1990 Eight steps to Simultaneous Engineering. Manufacturing Engineering, Nov, pp 41–47
Booz, Allen and Hamilton 1982 New products management for the 1980s. Booz, Allen and Hamilton Inc, New York
Twigg D and Voss C A 1992 Managing Integration in CAD/CAM and Simultaneous Engineering — A Workbook, Chapman and Hall, London
McGrath M E, Anthony M T and Shapiro A R 1992 Product Development: Success through Product and Cycle-Time Excellence, Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, MA
Wheelwright S C and Clark K B 1992 Revolutionizing Product Development: Quantum Leaps in Speed, Efficiency, and Quality, The Free Press, MacMillan, New York
Clark K B and Fujimoto T 1991 Product Development Performance — Strategy, Organisation and Management in the World Auto Industry, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts
Tucker D E and Leonard R 1994 Overcoming the Cultural Barriers to Implementing Concurrent Engineering. In: Kidd P T and Karwowski W (eds) Advances in Agile Manufacturing, IOS Press
Lettice F E, Smart P K and Evans S 1995 A Workbook-Based Methodology for implementing Concurrent Engineering. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol 16, pp 339–351
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this paper
Cite this paper
Lettice, F., Evans, S., Smart, P. (1998). Understanding the Concurrent Engineering Implementation Process — A Study Using Focus Groups. In: Duffy, A.H.B. (eds) The Design Productivity Debate. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1538-0_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1538-0_10
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1540-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1538-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive