Combining Lean Initiatives with Theory of Constraints in Distributed Product Design Chain Management

As manufacturing organizations develop e-Business strategies, the product development process is also embracing electronic models where design chains, which are groups involved in sequences of related product design events, play critical roles in the overall Product Life Cycle. However, current distributed and electronic product design environments are not optimized for successful output based on certain constraints, which include inadequate information infrastructures and poor product data management. Benefits of superior electronic product design chain models include: (i) improved product quality, (ii) reduced time-to-market for products and (iii) improved overall global competitiveness. This paper presents a framework for improving the functionality of product design chains. It applies lean principles and the concept of Theory of Constraints, which is a management philosophy used in manufacturing environments. The proposed framework is compared to an existing design method with strong points highlighted. The paper concludes with a brief discussion on model limitations.