Concurrent Engineering and more… A Systematic Approach to Successful Product Development

This paper describes the CE+ Model, a comprehensive and systemic approach to assess and change product development processes successfully. First, a general description of new product development processes is given (Cycle Model). The second part introduces the “hierarchical” CE+ Model which is derived from the uppermost goal of a company: economic success. Focusing the economic success four general levers are explained how to reach this target. An elementary part of the CE+Model are 17 Essentials (WHATs), which describe what has to be done in order to generate an effective development system. Depending on the characteristics of the industries and companies analyzed, specific Practices (HOWs) are related to the Essentials in the House of CE+. Finally, all methods and tools are used by human beings. They need a solid and sound environment (soil) where they are able to develop their strengths.