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Product design planning with the analytic hierarchy process in inter–organizational networks
Author(s) -
Hummel Marjan J.M.,
Van Rossum Wouter,
Verkerke Gijsbertus J.,
Rakhorst Gerhard
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9310.00275
Subject(s) - analytic hierarchy process , new product development , product design , process management , product (mathematics) , knowledge management , business , process (computing) , design review (u.s. government) , product design specification , computer science , engineering , marketing , product testing , operations research , mathematics , geometry , operating system
In the second half of inter–organizational product development, the new product is likely to face significant design changes. Our study focused on the adequacy of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to support the collaborative partners to steer and align the accompanying design activities. It quantitatively supported discussions between researchers, engineers, manufacturers and future users involved in the development of a voice–producing prosthesis. These discussions focused on the planning of respectively the product design objectives, design changes, and design activities. This product design planning was based on the product requirements relevant to the diverse groups involved, a pro–active view on the market circumstances, the available knowledge, skills and resources, lead–time and costs. The outcomes showed that the AHP is an adequate tool for R&D managers to support inter–organizational product development.