Integrating design and manufacturing processes in automotive suppliers

As the global automotive sector strives to achieve enhanced levels of efficiency and unprecedented cost reductions in the product realization process, a number of key issues have emerged in the area of the integration of the design and manufacturing processes. These include new considerations in the decision-making processes that must be integral in determining the major parameters of a new product and the formation of a new technical team of product development personnel. The paper describes these issues and based on the experience of the author in working with companies, it relates how they are being addressed in the North American automotive sector with particular reference to auto parts suppliers who are under severe pressure to lower costs and decrease product development time. The paper poses questions for consideration in advancing the state of the art in these key topics of concern.