Business transformation through simultaneous engineering of product and process

Discusses one of the most important issues facing manufacturing industry: that is, transforming the way a manufacturing enterprise wins orders through the simultaneous engineering of its product and manufacturing process to enable it to bring products to market much more quickly, increase customer satisfaction and improve its financial performance. The author examines today´s harsh business environment and the intense pressures that are placed upon manufacturing companies. In particular, he focuses on the importance of new product design and its relationship with the business strategy. He also explores the potential benefits that lie in integrating all of the departments responsible for bringing a new product to market, and why manufacturing enterprises have not already integrated product design and manufacturing. He looks at organisation and people issues and then considers barriers that are information technology-related. He explores solutions to some of these problems and barriers, and concludes by presenting a case history of how NCR has achieved integrated design and manufacturing in its Dundee plant