Product development process
As you know, our product development process (NPD) is undergoing a structural overhaul. The NPD committee has done substantive work to clarify the different stages in the new machine development process. The challenge is that this NPD should be a common guideline that is widely know, disseminated and applied. This new process will soon be unveiled during a launch event. In the meantime, here are the key points.
Arnaud Robardey and Benoît Baleydier presented the beginnings of the project to us back in February. In short, this new NPD is an improvement on the old process. This version aims to update our practices to address the challenges of future projects. The NPD committee brought together the 12 business lines involved in a project: Marketing, R&D, Service, Customer operations, Regulations, Production, etc. the aim being that each one should define the best way of working together to inject a “project culture” and connect the teams.
A solid base to improve project development
Each member of the committee set up working groups in their business line. Cross-disciplinary sessions were also organized to harmonize the deliverables.
Thanks to this coordination work, everyone knows exactly what they need to deliver to validate a stage in the process and can identify the contributors who will provide them with the elements they need to do so.
“For example, in Purchasing, the G2 gate deliverable is the valuation of the machine. To produce this deliverable, we need the Design Office to provide us with a bill of materials. There is a coherence between the business lines” explains Sébastien Pailleux, Projects Purchasing Manager and representative for the Purchasing business lines at the NPD committee.
A standard document has also been created for each deliverable of the development process. They will all be archived thanks to an Aras documentary tool.
As Sébastien Pailleux reminds us, “The new NPD constitutes a common guideline. We all speak the same language, we all provide the same documents, at the same time, whatever the project. Even with different teams, the organization is clarified and the entire company recognizes this functioning.”
The NPD committee will launch a training program in parallel in order for this common base to be implemented.
3 levers for an effective NPD
The work of the NPD committee has enabled three crucial levers for the development process to be activated. This involves first of all clarifying the “rules of the game” for the project teams. In other words, each business line will now have a specific formalized roadmap.
Next, the NPD provides a practical framework for day-to-day work. For example, it includes an audit before the validation of each step to ensure that the project is progressing along the right path. As our business lines are constantly developing, the NPD committee has planned the creation of a continuous improvement platform. “We have also planned to celebrate each time a gate is reached. This will highlight each stage and at the same time, verify the maturity of the project,” add Arnaud Robardey and Benoît Baleydier.
Finally, the NPD committee contributes to fostering a “project culture” with the establishment of a common vocabulary.
A preview of the NPD process overview will be disseminated shortly
Soon to be in your hands!
The NPD committee is currently organizing an event for the official launch of the new NPD. On the agenda, an animated presentation and fun activities to get to grips with this new tool.
On this occasion, everyone will be given communication materials according to their level of involvement. From the global process to formalized technical support, the idea is to help each employee to find their place in the process and understand the importance of their role in the progress of the project.
Further reading
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