Manufacturing technology management to accelerate “design for manufacturability”

One of the most important issues in technology management at manufacturing companies is realizing ldquovalue innovationsrdquo, which create new value for customers by producing new products, systems and services. However, realizing ldquoprocess innovationsrdquo, which improve current activities and business processes in order to produce high-quality, low-cost products with a short lead time, are as important as realizing value innovations. One of the famous methodologies for realizing process innovations is DFM (design for manufacturability). Many research studies concerning DFM have been reported from many kinds of viewpoints, such as the necessity of product design guidelines, effectiveness, IT systems and tools. However, in these research studies, technology management methods and approaches from the viewpoint of manufacturing technology were not fully discussed. In this paper, practical management methods for accelerating DFM from the viewpoint of manufacturing technology are discussed and proposed with references to actual applications, as one of the methodologies of manufacturing technology management for strengthening the competitiveness of manufacturing industries.