Integrated Product Design and Development: Lessons Learned from Lean Manufacturing Practices

Abstract

This article aims to establish potential relationship between lean manufacturing (LM) practices and integrated product design and development (IPDD). Comparisons of several critical factors show high degree of resemblances between the two methods. Several hypotheses regarding the relationships between factors for the two methods were developed and tested. Survey data strongly supports the hypotheses regarding similarities between the LM and IPDD methods. Statistical results also indicate compared with conventional companies, by utilizing IPDD, lean manufacturing organizations are able to design and develop products with better quality, less development time, higher frequency, and lower development and manufacturing costs.