HyValue – a Hybrid Reference Model for the Automotive Product Development Process

Traffic and environmental protection are current topics for modern cities. Both are heavily influenced by products of the automotive industry. In order to keep pace with technological innovation, sustainability requirements, and societal changes, the automotive industry has to improve development speed and flexibility. Efficient product development processes can help to achieve these targets. Traditionally, the automotive industry uses plan-based development process models like the waterfall or Vee-model. However, this may not be the most efficient and effective process for all suppliers partaking in automotive product development. Instead of a "one size fits all" approach, this research aims at an innovative, digital and adaptive product development process, which integrates the whole value chain including individual requirements of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and suppliers. The process is digitally modelled as a reference model and allows for simple adaptation. Thus, it allows each development partner to use its plan-based, agile or hybrid development process while ensuring that the results of each partner fit together. Due to its flexible architecture, the adaptive reference model facilitates efficient and effective product development.