World class development: a key enabler for world class manufacturing

Abstract

It is pointed out that achievement and maintenance of status as a world class manufacturing organization is dependent on numerous factors. Analysis of those factors in the manufacturing environment often ignores the role of product development and its input to the manufacturing process. This is because the creative development process is not typically considered amenable to measurement. The author describes a set of metrics that were designed and implemented by a group of engineering executives to quantify the importance of world class development as a key enabler for world class manufacturing.<>