Analysis Tools for Managing in an Emerging Technological Environment

The automotive design and development environment is highly competitive and dynamic. The ability to quickly evaluate and incorporate emerging technologies often makes the difference in market penetration and internal production efficiency. What is lacking in traditional planning and management techniques is a method to quickly evaluate and target emerging technologies of potential benefit. This paper presents a method known as the third Derivative Method that is coupled with improvements in traditional strategic and personnel management to facilitate the evaluation and incorporation of new technologies and developments.

Results of current emerging technology evaluations from the manufacturing perspective are included. The Third Derivative Method has been used on these and other developments over a period of ten years at small and medium sized suppliers of world class automotive and truck components. Experience in nine countries has shown good results in varying cultural and economic conditions.