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To succeed and survive in competitive markets, products need to be of the desired quality. Quality is how well the product, in its entirety, satisfies the needs of the intended customers. With products in industrial markets, there are many different types of customers to satisfy. Research has been published that is of general use to help define the New Product Development (NPD) process and the management of its activities and this was useful as a basis for this research study. However, little previous work is available that details the specific aspect of designing for customer needs compliance. An exploratory investigation, using analysis of selected cases and experience surveys, was undertaken to help direct conceptual work. A conceptual model was developed to help describe the NPD process and customer needs compliance. The hypotheses that guided the main study sought to understand the perceptions which the design team has of the product in terms of different customer needs. They also aimed to determine how information management during NPD may affect the final design and, consequently, the quality of the product. With the objective of drawing conclusions across the four companies involved in the main study, collection methods and data analysis provided quantitative results on what is essentially qualitative types of information. The findings conclude that each of the companies do perceive a difference in the needs of the customers between different product types. However, they also imply that specific types of customers have similar needs, no matter what types of products are involved. With a small set of respondents in each company, no evidence was found to suggest that the different perceptions the people involved in the design and development of the product had could be attributed to the functional, managerial or customer involvement groupings under investigation. However, there was some evidence that customer needs compliance may be affected by the way the company handled its information management during the NPD process.

This thesis deals with multibody dynamic simulation of mechanical systems in the product development process. The approach is to make the process of multibody dynamics simulation more efficient by structuring of the simulation, simulation models and their usage. Previous work has concentrated on developing faster calculation methods and more specialised simulation software. Efforts have been made to clarify how computer tools and multibody dynamic analysis methods are used in product development in industry today. Insight into the knowledge domains of product development and multibody dynamics is given together with an introduction to the area of distributed simulation, modularisation techniques and nonlinear analysis. The mentioned domains have traditionally been separated but the introduction of concurrent engineering and faster computers puts new demands on the need for integration of computer support and analysis in the development process. The performed work is to be seen as cross-functional work in order to bring different domains together for the sake of a better total product development. The applications areas used in the work are all within vehicle system dynamics. A proposal for performing the multibody dynamics methodology in a distributed and modular way in the product development process is given based on the performed work together with a prototype implementation.

Este trabalho avalia a relação entre a empresa e o fornecedor durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produto em três empresas do setor calçadista do Rio Grande do Sul. O seu principal objetivo é identificar as possíveis oportunidades de integração, assim como as possibilidades de melhoria. Os resultados indicam uma real viabilidade da cooperação com o fornecedor como uma alternativa para a empresa melhorar o desempenho do seu PDP. Verifica-se uma relação mais intensa com o fornecedor quando a empresa possui um direcionamento ao desenvolvimento tecnológico e ao aprimoramento da performance do produto, como no caso da empresa de calçado infantil. A relação é mais incipiente quando o PDP está focado ao acompanhamento das tendências de moda, como nos casos das empresas de calçado feminino. O estudo identifica oportunidades de cooperação com os fornecedores durante o processo de desenvolvimento e no produto, assim como alternativas de projetos para incrementar a sua relação com seus fornecedores. / This work evaluates the relation between buyer and supplier during the product development process (PDP) in three companies of the shoe sector in Rio Grande do Sul. The main objective is to identify a possible integration and improvement opportunities in this relationship. The results indicate a viability for the cooperation between both parties to improve the PDP. A more intense relation with the supplier is verified when the manufacturer focuses on technological development and product performance improvement, as it is the case of the company of children footwear. This relation tends to diminish when the PDP follows fashion trends, as it is the case of woman footwear. The study identifies chances of cooperation between buyers and suppliers during the PDP as well as alternative projects to further develop the studied companies’ relation with their suppliers.

Este trabalho avalia a relação entre a empresa e o fornecedor durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produto em três empresas do setor calçadista do Rio Grande do Sul. O seu principal objetivo é identificar as possíveis oportunidades de integração, assim como as possibilidades de melhoria. Os resultados indicam uma real viabilidade da cooperação com o fornecedor como uma alternativa para a empresa melhorar o desempenho do seu PDP. Verifica-se uma relação mais intensa com o fornecedor quando a empresa possui um direcionamento ao desenvolvimento tecnológico e ao aprimoramento da performance do produto, como no caso da empresa de calçado infantil. A relação é mais incipiente quando o PDP está focado ao acompanhamento das tendências de moda, como nos casos das empresas de calçado feminino. O estudo identifica oportunidades de cooperação com os fornecedores durante o processo de desenvolvimento e no produto, assim como alternativas de projetos para incrementar a sua relação com seus fornecedores. / This work evaluates the relation between buyer and supplier during the product development process (PDP) in three companies of the shoe sector in Rio Grande do Sul. The main objective is to identify a possible integration and improvement opportunities in this relationship. The results indicate a viability for the cooperation between both parties to improve the PDP. A more intense relation with the supplier is verified when the manufacturer focuses on technological development and product performance improvement, as it is the case of the company of children footwear. This relation tends to diminish when the PDP follows fashion trends, as it is the case of woman footwear. The study identifies chances of cooperation between buyers and suppliers during the PDP as well as alternative projects to further develop the studied companies’ relation with their suppliers.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / The development of vaccines and similar pharmaceutical products in the animal health industry are expensive and follow very specific pathways to comply with regulatory requirements for product licensure and registration. The vaccine development process is complex and involves numerous individuals, assets and departments within and outside the organization, and is a long process. The study stage of this long and complex process allows a company to confirm particular solutions to particular health incidents can be efficacious. The study stage involves executives who decide on new products that may be developed, managers who oversee the development of the products and scientists who develop protocols to undertake animal studies to test various aspects of the new product. It also involves clinical study personnel and laboratory personnel who conduct the experiments and collect data for analyses about the new products being studied. The number of people and time sensitivity of the processes contribute to the complexity, making effective communication critical to getting new products developed on time and on budget. The objective of this research is to identify perceived gaps in communication among people in the different roles with the view to finding solutions to address these gaps. Data were collected using an industry-focused online survey instrument. The instrument was designed to have both closed and open-ended questions. Survey participants were purposefully selected from across the global animal health industry, focusing on those directly involved in the study stage of new product development. The results showed the majority of respondents were satisfied with their company’s processes and systems for study development, initiation and execution, but people resources were viewed as the highest contributor to bottlenecks, which could demonstrate gaps in the communication links between groups. However, perceptions about challenges and gaps in communication seem to be influenced by who is providing information and who is receiving it. The different roles perceived the effect of timeliness, accuracy and clarity of communication on product development costs differently, with scientists presenting the highest cost of communication challenges and executives the lowest. On average, the perception was that these communication challenges increased the cost at the study stage of new product development by about 84% for biologicals and over 100% for pharmaceuticals.

Este trabalho avalia a relação entre a empresa e o fornecedor durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produto em três empresas do setor calçadista do Rio Grande do Sul. O seu principal objetivo é identificar as possíveis oportunidades de integração, assim como as possibilidades de melhoria. Os resultados indicam uma real viabilidade da cooperação com o fornecedor como uma alternativa para a empresa melhorar o desempenho do seu PDP. Verifica-se uma relação mais intensa com o fornecedor quando a empresa possui um direcionamento ao desenvolvimento tecnológico e ao aprimoramento da performance do produto, como no caso da empresa de calçado infantil. A relação é mais incipiente quando o PDP está focado ao acompanhamento das tendências de moda, como nos casos das empresas de calçado feminino. O estudo identifica oportunidades de cooperação com os fornecedores durante o processo de desenvolvimento e no produto, assim como alternativas de projetos para incrementar a sua relação com seus fornecedores. / This work evaluates the relation between buyer and supplier during the product development process (PDP) in three companies of the shoe sector in Rio Grande do Sul. The main objective is to identify a possible integration and improvement opportunities in this relationship. The results indicate a viability for the cooperation between both parties to improve the PDP. A more intense relation with the supplier is verified when the manufacturer focuses on technological development and product performance improvement, as it is the case of the company of children footwear. This relation tends to diminish when the PDP follows fashion trends, as it is the case of woman footwear. The study identifies chances of cooperation between buyers and suppliers during the PDP as well as alternative projects to further develop the studied companies’ relation with their suppliers.

Abstract Product development plays a crucial role in the survival of high technology companies. High technology product development projects typically are multi-technical, multicultural, geographically dispersed, inter-connected and organized in a network of companies. These settings pose extra challenges for communication. In this qualitative multiple-case study, communication challenges and possible solutions for developing communication were studied. The empirical data were collected from five high technology product development projects. Each project represented a different high technology company operating in the Oulu area, in Finland. Multiple data collection methods were used, including interviews studying organizations’ internal documents, web-based surveys among project personnel and case-internal focus groups. After studying each of the five cases separately, a cross-case analysis was conducted by the researcher. The findings of this research show that communication challenges depend on the business role of the company. Efforts to enhance communication should be considered in relation to the business realities of companies. Typical challenges include a lack of communication planning, lack of project personnel’s communication competence and obstacles caused by physical & organizational boundaries. Possible solutions for developing communication include systematic planning of project communication and defining communication development targets based on internal analyses and the business realities of the company. Data management systems should be set up to enhance the work done and information flows in projects. Another solution is continuous trust building through feedback between the companies participating in the same product development project. According to the results of this study, companies can direct their efforts when enhancing communication in product development projects. Companies can also utilize of the process described in this research to identify their communication challenges and to define communication action plans.

Abstract The workload of Verification and Validation (V&V) has increased constantly in the high technology industries. The changes in the business environment, with fast time-to-market and demands to decrease research and development costs, have increased the importance of efficient product creation process, including V&V. The significance of the V&V related know-how and testing is increasing in the high tech business environment. As a consequence, companies in the ICT sector have pressures for improving product development process and verification and validation activities. The main motive for this research arises from the fact that the research has been scarce on verification and validation from product development process perspective. This study approaches the above mentioned goal from four perspectives: current challenges and success factors, V&V maturity in different NPD phases, benchmarking automotive sector, and shifting the emphasis of NPD efforts. This dissertation is qualitative in nature and is based on interviewing experienced industrial managers, reflecting their views against scientific literature. The researcher has analysed the obtained material and made conclusions. The main implications of this doctoral dissertation can be concluded as a visible need to shift the emphasis of V&V activities to early NPD. These activities should be viewed and managed over the entire NPD process. There is a need for companies to understand the V&V maturity in different NPD phases and develop activities based on this understanding. Verification and validation activities must be seen as an integral element for successful NPD. Benchmarking other sectors may enable identifying development potential for NPD process. The automotive sector being a mature sector, has developed practices for successfully handling requirements during NPD. The role of V&V is different in different NPD phases. Set-based type V&V can provide required understanding during early product development. In addition, developing parallel technological alternatives and platforms during early NPD also support shifting the emphasis towards earlier development phases.