The development of a generic framework for the implementation of concurrent engineering

Implementing CE successfully requires a huge cultural change in an organisation. This paper presents a generic concurrent engineering (CE) implementation support framework, how it was derived and why the PACE project consortium considers that it encapsulates the pertinent issues of change towards CE. PACE-a 'Practical Approach to Concurrent Engineering'-is an EC project consisting of a pan-European consortium. Its aim is to provide an holistic technology transfer infrastructure enabling the effective change and improvement of present engineering practices towards CE principles. The methodology behind it is generic but designed to be adaptable to specific company needs. It is especially aimed at showing how to implement CE in an ordinary company i.e. not using a 'super-motivated' project team. It is based on the steps of change management in the specific context of CE and provides a structure for implementation, drawing on literature and experiences of the project's industrial partners.