Product Description
This practical guide to the components of engineering management employs a holistic approach. It will help engineers and managers understand how to improve the product development process by deploying new technology and new methods of working in concurrent teams. The book integrates elements from six well-known and understood bodies of knowledge: integrated product development, project management, process management, systems engineering, product data management, a… More >>
Engineering and Product Development Management: The Holistic Approach
Tags: Approach, concurrent teams, Development, development project management, Engineering, Holistic, holistic approach, integrated product development, Management, management systems engineering, Product, product data management, product development management, project management process
The Holistic Approach is like being on the bridge of the Star Ship Enterprise, and giving each other a group hug after every group decision.
The author describes, lists and charts every function of every team member in minute detail, then contradicts himself by saying that each team member is required to overlook each otherÕs shoulders and join in on their duties. Now, this lends itself to three obvious problems: one Ð the time required to ÒhelpÓ someone else, and two Ð the trust factor is way down, and three – why would you perform your functions if someone else will re-do it anyway?
The top 10 lessons learned of case studies simply states good leadership and communication are a must. However, a caution is also raised, that there is a high level of frustration and desire to revert to old practices of project management after a mere 3-6 months. Could the moral be: to undertake short projects?
With real-life power struggles, and the threat of losing power leads to job-loss, these holistic procedures for product and process management are not in place, and realistically will not be in place.
Rating: 1 / 5
Engineering and Product Development Management – The Holistic Approach
Stephen C. Armstrong, Cambridge University Press,
ISBN 0-521-79069-7
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Book Reviewed by Mark Crowne CEng MIEE, www.mcrowne.com
Product development is not an area where the UK is considered to have great strength these days, so it is heartening to read a book by a native on this subject, even if much of the experience that it draws on was gained in US aerospace companies. As a current practitioner in product development working in the mobile phone sector, the reviewer approached it with great interest.
In this opinionated and interesting book, Armstrong attempts nothing less than a grand unified theory of product development management, bringing together six different disciplines in a mutually supportive and reinforcing way. These disciplines are: integrated product development, project/programme management, process management, organisational change/political management, product data management and systems engineering.
This is not a theoretical exercise – the book is full of practical suggestions and insights born of Armstrong’s own consulting practice with aerospace product companies such as Short Brothers, Lockheed and Bombardier. The book is not a good place to start for anyone wanting to understand the six disciplines, rather it is a guidebook with examples for product development practitioners wishing to improve their organisations by applying the principles in a coherent fashion.
A particular strength of the book is that it recognises the importance and challenges of change management within the business – product organisations are often effective at considering those aspects of change that relate to their products, but not those bearing on their processes or skills. A weakness is that it could do with further editing – subject material can be difficult to find as a reference, and it is not as easy to read as some other references in the field, such as “Setting the PACE in Product Development”.
In summary, this book is a good contribution to the body of knowledge on product development, and deserves a place in the library of any manager working in this area.
Rating: 4 / 5
The author has done an excellent job of presenting the proper
marriage of systems engineering and process development/deployment. It
is obvious that he speaks from the vantage point of many years of
experience in various industries; in other words, “He has been there and
done it. One of the strongest points of the book is the workflow
Illustrations and figures depicting the various hierarchical structures that
can be utilized in process development. Conversely, the major weak
point of the book is that the text could have addressed the figures and
illustration more thoroughly with greater discussion on the details.
However, as is, the book is an excellent reference work for the
systems engineer, the process development practitioner, and especially those
just starting in the process world. I recommend the book highly and
give it a four-star plus (out of five) rating.”
Rating: 4 / 5
The author has done an excellent job of presenting the proper
marriage of systems engineering and process development/deployment. It
is obvious that he speaks from the vantage point of many years of
experience in various industries; in other words, “He has been there and
done it. One of the strongest points of the book is the workflow
Illustrations and figures depicting the various hierarchical structures that
can be utilized in process development. Conversely, the major weak
point of the book is that the text could have addressed the figures and
illustration more thoroughly with greater discussion on the details.
However, as is, the book is an excellent reference work for the
systems engineer, the process development practitioner, and especially those
just starting in the process world. I recommend the book highly and
give it a four-star plus (out of five) rating.”
Rating: 4 / 5
As a small ISO 9001:2000 registered Capital Equipment Design and Manufacturer (75 employees and a revenue of $16M) we are challenged daily to measure, analyze and continually improve our QMS and in particular our Product Realization Process.
Within the pages of EPDM The Holistic Approach I have discovered the philosophy, the methodology and the tools to effectively implement the changes required throughout our enterprise to successfully pursue the goals and objectives of our Quality Policy and Business Strategy.
The book explains how to construct a process architecture for product development and more importantly illustrates how to overcome the inevitable resistance to change.
Even though the book is based around large Aerospace companies the concepts are scalable to smaller enterprises such as ours.
Through our new cross-functional teams we are in the process of integrating the contents of the book into our enterprise management system.
The transformation that has taken place within our company at all levels since we have adopted the Holistic Approach is very evident and measurable.
It has delighted both our owners and our customers and resulted in a highly motivated, effective and focused workforce.
Rating: 5 / 5