IT-Based Knowledge Management Systems to Support the Design of Product Development Processes - Information Technology and Product Development - page 51

The main focus of RDM is on designing products and processes that are insen-
sitive to potential environmental factors and variation to enable products to be
manufactured as close to the desired specification as possible. Furthermore, RDM
is concerned with identifying the optimal operating conditions so that variability is
minimized (Montgomery, 2001a).
The main benefits that RDM can provide to product development are as follows
(Antony, 2002):
•

Improved understanding of products and processes and the factors which affect
these (for example, humidity, raw material, temperature);

•

Development of processes that are insensitive to factors which cause variation;

• Improves the quality of your products due to reduced defects; and

• Improves the efficiency of your process and reduce costs.

Due to these benefits RDM was used as a methodology to improve existing prod-
ucts and processes in the company outlined in the case study described later in this
chapter. DOE formed a major step in this process.
Within RDM importantly, DOE is a technique that can readily be used in the
design and development of new products and the associated processes (Ellekjaer,
& Bisgaard, 1998). Furthermore, DOE can assist the modification of existing pro-
cesses and lead to incremental improvements in such products. Thus it is useful
for both radical and incremental innovation as well as for both product and process
innovation.
Radical innovations are fundamental changes that represent revolutionary change
in technology. They represent clear departures from existing practices. In contrast,
incremental innovations are minor improvements or simple adjustments in current
technology. This is significant in light of the way businesses operate today. Stalk
(1993) highlights that with the fast moving pace of today's business world, product
lifecycles are constantly shrinking and as a result it is important that companies
develop the capability to rapidly replace products with better versions.
DOE focuses on the improvement and identification of new processes regard-
less. “Process creation is an innovation process that emphasises the need to design
and redesign products in a way to match organisational needs with emergent tech-
nology” (Zumd, 1984). The importance of this is further emphasized by a study
conducted by Yamin, Mavondo, Gunasekaran, and Sarros (1997) which found
that process innovations were the stronger predictor of performance over product
innovation.
Now that we have established the role of DOE in defining (or innovating) product
development processes, we will examine the significance of knowledge in the DOE
process.

3.4 Importance of Knowledge in DOE

Cambridge Dictionary defines knowledge as an “ u nderstanding of or information
about a subject which has been obtained by experience or study which is either
in a person's mind or possessed by people generally.” This definition supports the