Identifying the critical success factors of agile NPD process in Iranian Manufacturing Enterprises

In response to dynamic and turbulent customer needs, shortening the cycle time, technological changes and volatile global markets, agile new product development (NPD) is a focus of manufacturing enterprises. This study aims to identify the critical success factors of agile NPD to help NPD managers to obtain a better understanding of issues surrounding the agile NPD process and to facilitate their decision-making in the condition of unanticipated changes. As a useful methodology explanatory factor analysis is used for identifying these critical success factors and is based on the results of a study which has done on 264 NPD projects in Iranian manufacturing enterprises. The results of this study show that among the factors affecting the responsiveness power of the NPD process, 6 most critical ones are identified. These factors are using advanced manufacturing techniques, customer design and development, adaptation to changes and minimizing uncertainty, information-driven and virtual integrated processes, market testing and responsiveness, and collaborative relationship and participating management styles.