Conceptual design knowledge management in a PLM framework

The capability of managing product development is the basis to success the global competition. Successful product development requires improved approaches to organize the development process [1], reducing any kind of waste, and providing goods to meet customer explicit or hidden needs. Lean product development, short time-to-market (TTM) and an effective quality approach are key elements to respond to the competition in our own markets as well as to compete on a global scale. All these aspects must be taken into consideration from the very first steps of the product lifecycle management to gather optimal results. To accomplish this goal methods and tools coming from the systematic innovation field for the management of product knowledge can be adopted.