Neon Interior Coordination: A Supplier's Perspective

Coordination of Chrysler's 1994 ½ Neon Interior would have been a challenging experience in any environment. Neon was Chrysler's first attempt to apply the new “Cab-Forward” design theme to a small vehicle; and market pressures and financial considerations demanded a new, compressed product development cycle.

Neon was also the first vehicle to be fully developed and launched under Chrysler's newly defined and emerging Platform Team Organization Structure. This was a radical change for the organization yielding new and unfamiliar roles, responsibilities and communication channels both within Chrysler Corporation and with the outside supply base. This environment of change posed the greatest challenges. The Interior coordination effort had to embrace the environment, as well as, accommodate the requirements of a very aggressive vehicle development and launch plan.