Abstract
Abstract
Simultaneous engineering (SE) has been developed by large multinational companies working in consumer oriented industries. This has meant that the implementation methods, tools and techniques have been geared towards these industries. 600 Lathes is a medium-sized company engaged in the manufacture of a variety of machine tools. The application of an SE approach in such environments requires the adaptation of its generic principles.
The initial use of SE on a new machine tool, the Tornado lathe, indicated the need for procedures to institutionalize this new method of working. A critical analysis of SE identified four generic principles that were used as a framework for product introduction. Procedures were developed drawing on organizational communication theory and involving the users. The aim was to create procedures with company-wide acceptance that were user friendly and worked. These procedures were used for the introduction of a second range of lathes, named Alpha. Their effectiveness was studied as a crucial part of the Alpha project review. This evaluation showed that procedures based on practical experience are readily adopted. Each procedure was necessary and integral to SE. Any company wanting to implement SE must tackle similar issues. The generic principles of SE are proposed as the method for developing effective procedures.