An Approach to Capture, Evaluate and Handle Complexity of Engineering Change Occurrences in New Product Development

Authors: Mohammad Rostami Mehr, Seyed Arya Mir Rashed, Arndt Lueder, Magdalena Mißler-Behr

Abstract:

This paper represents the conception that complex problems do not necessary need similar complex solutions in order to cope with the complexity. Furthermore, a simple solution based on established methods can provide a sufficient way dealing with the complexity. To verify this conception, the presented paper focuses on the field of change management as a part of new product development process in automotive sector. In the field of complexity management, dealing with increasing complexity is essential, while, only non-flexible rigid processes that are not designed to handle complexity are available. The basic methodology of this paper can be divided in four main sections: 1) analyzing the complexity of the change management, 2) literature review in order to identify potential solutions and methods, 3) capturing and implementing expertise of experts from change management filed of an automobile manufacturing company and 4) systematical comparison of the identified methods from literature and connecting these with defined requirements of the complexity of the change management in order to develop a solution. As a practical outcome, this paper provides a method to capture the complexity of engineering changes (EC) and includes it within the EC evaluation process, following case-related process guidance to cope with the complexity. Furthermore, this approach supports the conception that dealing with complexity is possible while utilizing rather simple and established methods by combining them in to a powerful tool.

Keywords: complexity management, new product development, engineering change management, flexibility

References:

[1] Kirchhof R. „Ganzheitliches Komplexitätsmanagement“. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH. 2003.
[2] MirRashed S. A., Rostami-Mehr M., Mißler-Behr M. and Lüder A. “Analyzing the causes and effects of complexity on different levels of automobile manufacturing systems”. IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). 2016.
[3] Huang G.Q., Yee W.Y. and Mak K.L. “Current Practices of Engineering Change Management in Hong Kong Manufacturing Industries.” Journal of Modern African Studies 2003, 13.139: 481-487.
[4] Deutsches Institut für Normung 1990. “DIN 6789-3. Teil 3.
[5] Hamraz B., Caldwell N. H. M. and Clarkson P. J. “A Holistic Categorization Framework for Literature on Engineering Change Management”. System Engineering, 2013, Vol. 16 No. 4: 473-505.
[6] Li W. and Moon Y. B. “Modelling and managing engineering changes in a complex product development process”. Proceedings of the 2011 Winter Simulation Conference S. Jain, R.R. Creasey, J. Himmelspach, K.P. White, and M. Fu, eds, 2011.
[7] Ström M. “Redesign of the engineering change process of a supplier in the automotive industry”. Göteborg: 2nd Nordic Conference on Product Lifecycle Management – 2009, NordPLM’09. p. 28-29.
[8] Eger T., Eckert C. M. and Clarkson P. L. “Engineering change analysis during ongoing product development”. Paris: International conference on engineering design, Paris, France, 2007.
[9] Reddi, K. R. and Moon, Y. B. "Modelling Engineering Change Management in a New Product Development Supply Chain". Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 16, 2013.
[10] S. Leng, L. Wang, G. Chen and D. Tang. 2015. “Engineering Change information propagation in aviation industrial manufacturing execution processes”, Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. p. 1–11.
[11] Subrahmanian; E., Lee, C., Granger, H., “Managing and supporting product life cycle through Engineering Change Management for a complex product”, Res. Eng., 2015. Des. 26. p. 1–29.
[12] VDA Verband der Automobilindustrie. „ECM Recommendation: Part 0 (ECM)”. 2010., Darmstadt: SASIG VDA 4965, Part 3.0
[13] Kocar, V. and Akgunduz, A. “ADVICE: A virtual environment for Engineering Change Management”, 2010, Computers in Industry 61. p. 15–28.
[14] Oyama, K.; Learmonth, G.; Chao, R. “Analyzing complexity science to new product development” Modelling considerations, extensions, Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2015, No.35, P.1-24.
[15] Ulrich, K. T. Eppinger, S. D. “Product design and development”, fifth edition, 2008.
[16] Vogel, W. “Complexity management approach for resource planning in variant-rich product development”, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, 2017.
[17] Grussenmeyer, R; Blecker, T. “Requirement for the design of a complexity management method in new product development of internal and modular products”, international journal of engineering, science and technology, 2013, Vol.5, No. 2, P. 132-149.
[18] Porter, M. E. „Wettbewerbsstrategie: Spitzenleistungen erreichen und behaupten“, Campus Verlag Frankfurt Main, 1986.
[19] Kerga, E.; Taisch, M.; Terzi, S. “Manufacturing process planning in Set-Based concurrent engineering paradigm, International federation for information processing”, 2012, IFIP AICT 388, P. 158- 169.
[20] Wannenwetsch, H. „Integrierte Materialwirtschaft, Logistik und Beschaffung“ (German), fifth edition, Springer Vieweg, Berlin, 2014.
[21] Fricke E., Gebhard B., Negele H. and Igenbergs E. “Coping with Changes: Causes, Findings and Strategies”. System Engineering, 2000. Vol.3 No. 4: 169-179.
[22] Hollauer C., Wickel M. and Lindemann U. “Learning from Past Changes: Towards a Learning-oriented Engineering Change Management”. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE IEEM: 1081-1085.
[23] Ullah I., Tang D. and Yin L. “Engineering product and process design changes: A literature overview”. Procedia CIRP 56:. 25-33.
[24] Jarratt T. A. W., Eckert C. M. and Caldwell N. H. M. 2011. “Engineering change: an overview and perspective on the literature”. 2016, Res Eng Design 22: 103-124.
[25] Köhler C. „Technische Produktänderungen: Analyse und Beurteilung von Lösungsmöglichkeiten auf Basis einer Erweiterung des CPM/PDD-Ansatzes”. Saarbrücken: Schriftenreihe Produktionstechnik Band 45, 2009.
[26] Peeters, J.F.W., Basten, R.J.I. and Tinga, T. “Improving failure analysis efficiency by combining FTA and FMEA in a recursive manner”, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 2018.
[27] Brunelli, M. “Introduction to the Analytic Hierarchy Process”. Springer, London, 2014.
[28] Young, S.J. and Jamieson, L.M. “Delivery methodology of the Delphi: A comparison of two approaches”. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. 2001. 19(1), p. 42-58.
[29] Eytama, E., Tractinsky, N., Lowengart, O. “The paradox of simplicity: Effects of role on the preference and choice of product visual simplicity level”, International Journal of Human – Computer Studies, 2017, 105. p. 43–55
[30] Cunha, M. And Rego, A. “Complexity, simplicity, simplexity”. European Management Journal, 2010, 28. p. 85– 94.
[31] Lindemann U. and Reichwald R. „Integriertes Änderungsmanagement“. Springer, 2013.
[32] Asan S. “A Methodology Based on Theory of Constraints’ Thinking Processes for Managing Complexity in the Supply Chain”. Dissertation, 2009.
[33] Kluth, A., Jäger, J., Schatz, A. and Bauernhansl, T. „Method for a Systematic Evaluation of advanced Complexity Management Maturity”, Robust Manufacturing Conference (RoMaC), 2014.
[34] Ashby W.R. “Requisite variety and its implications for the control of complex systems”, Cybernetica, 1958. 1:2, p. 83-99.