Concurrent Engineering

I'm not certain how others see "concurrent engineering" but I believe it is best described as a "COOPERATIVE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, & SCHEDULING" strategy (or methodology).

An example (without an imposed schedule or requirement for execution of a solution) are several threads on ""FUTURE ENERGY" where various contributors drive toward an understanding the parameters of a problem and then attempt to generate one or more potential solutions.

In the case of these specific forums, the "charter" does not include execution (on a schedule) of a group implemented solution.

However, I suspect that a number of the participants will implement one or more of the solution variations developed during any specific thread on some unspecified schedule as appropriate for that participant simply because of a personal interest/commitment (rather than an organizational objective).

For a more academic discussion you might try a search on HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW.

I hope this helps.

Hi Gas-Man

Here's my take. I'm a manufacturing engineer and I was assigned a project to introduce a new product for my company. This project had 4 phases. The first phase was done with traditional engineering practices. That is the design team did their thing and "tossed it over the wall" to me. I then review the drawing and requirements and 'tossed it back' for correction. The corrections took 14 weeks. This upset management and they ordered 'Concurrent engineering.'

As a result, I was told to sit with the design engineers and the drafters and we concurrently developed the product. When the drafter was done with the drawing, I had developed my shop routings, had my fixtures designed, my suppliers were on board, some even visited during the design phase and provided input to the design. As far as management was concerned we went from 2 years from concept to introduction to 6 months. Yes, 6 months.

Concurrent engineering is when manufacturing and design are working on the same project at the same time.

Let me preach on this..

Without concurrent engineering

Design the product - 3 months

Send design to manufacturing for review - 1 to 3 weeks

correct the design after review of manufacturing requested changes 1 to 4 MONTHS

froze design sent to Manufacturing - milestone big day - design pat's them self on back

Manufacturing takes over, design fixtures, process, raw material, 3-5 months

casting patterns another 12 - 14 weeks.

Part arrive, 4 weeks to compete

pilot run on assembly of final product 2 weeks

feedback to design for changes.... well, you get the idea here.

With concurrent engineering, everything listed above is happening at the same time. It requires daily meetings between design, manufacturing and marketing. Yes, marketing. If the engineering team works without marketing indrustry there is a real danger of making a product that will not sell. (worse case.)

With concurrent engineering, the design team can often use final parts for the prototype. Something that almost never happens. Suppliers and manufacturing are always on the same page as the design team and when the design is finished, it's just a few weeks and production starts.

Thanks to concurrent engineering, the last 3 phases of the project we completed in 2 years. unheard of in our industry.

need more info? post back here or contact me at

FBarbara@textron.com

Good luck

Hello gas-man:

Concurrent Engineering or perhaps could be known as (concurrent design) is very cost effective and it's unfortunate many don't practice it.

What it is? Please folllow with me:

Example: You wish to build a bicycle. You design the bicycle as traditionally practiced. But this time you design the bicycle to be motorized using batteries. In addition, you design it to incorporate the marketing departments next generation bicycle. And better yet, you design your bicycle so the factory will be able to manufacture your bicycle using the latest technology and machine tools the company recently purchased.

Basically, Concurrent Engineering is having the fore sight to incorporate the future into your designs. I try to practice it daily in my projects/patents.

Best of luck.

R/

Zcarguy

Main Entry: con·cur·rent
Pronunciation: -'k&r-&nt, -'k&-r&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin concurrent-, concurrens, present participle of concurrere
1 : operating or occurring at the same time

I still stand my my explaination above.