Integrating Product and Process Planning

In the past, traditional organizations have been structured with rigid boundaries between departments resulting in weak ties to projects, conflicting goals, long chains of communication, and barriers to cooperation. Organizations striving to exceed customer demands have begun implementing matrix type team structures which eliminate barriers and focus teams on specific goals. In the global automotive industry, team members often are located at different sites throughout the world.

A methodology for integrating product and process planning is presented for the design and launch of a product. A discussion follows reviewing the application of tele-communication tools to this planning methodology. Included in the discussion are problems encountered during initial implementation.