production and construction

1. Concurrent Engineering
Concurrentengineering,alsocalledsimultaneousengineering,isaprocessfordesigningandcreating
productsin whichprojectworkerscarryout eachstage at the same time,ratherthan one afterthe
other.For instance,the design teamforanauto manufacturercanwork onthe shape of a new car while
technicianstestitsaerodynamicsinthe windtunnel.Althoughthe initialattemptsatconcurrent
engineeringcanbe challenging,the practicesinvolveddeliverseveral competitiveadvantages.
Advantages of ConcurrentEngineering
 Faster Time to Market: - A major advantage thatconcurrentengineeringoffersisthatitallows
companiestodelivertheirproductstomarketina muchshortertime frame.Whenproduct
developmentstagesrunconsecutively,the workersonprototypingstage mustwaituntil those on
designphase have completedtheirtasks,those ontestingphase mustwaituntil those in
prototypingphase are finished,andsoon.All of thiswaitingcandelayproductreleases.Concurrent
engineeringallowsworkersonseveral stagestoworksimultaneously,shorteningthe time to
market.
 Enhanced Quality: -Concurrentengineeringpracticesalsoenable workersandmanagerstodiscover
any productionissuesearlierinthe process,whichleadstoa higher-qualityproduct.These practices
alsoreduce designrevisions,unworkable prototypesandexcessive testingtoarrive atthe highest-
qualityproductinthe shortesttime.Inthe auto manufacturerexample,anyissuesinvolvingthe
aerodynamicsof the car are uncoveredearlierinthe processbythe testingteam, whichallowsthe
designandprototypingteamstoworktowardsolvingthe problem.
 Lower DevelopmentCosts:- The bulkof a company'scostsassociatedwithcreatinganew product
involve the designanddevelopmentprocesses.Managerscanuse concurrent engineeringasa
powerful tool forreducingthose earlydevelopmentcosts.Since concurrentengineeringpractices
decrease the time spentinthe designanddevelopmentphases,companiescandeliveraproduct
faster,betterandcheaperthantheircompetitors.Inthe automanufacturerexample,concurrent
engineeringpracticesallowthe design,prototypingandtestingteamstoproduce afactory-readycar
designinmuchlesstime andat a lower costto the company.
 IncreasedProductivity: - While consecutive engineeringrequiresthatworkersona laterstage wait
for those inearlierstages,concurrentengineeringallowsworkersthe opportunitytobe productive
immediatelyandthroughoutthe process.Thisprocessallowsworkerstofocusonthe projectas a
whole,ratherthanfocussolelyontheirareaof specialty.Inthe automanufacturerexample,the
design,prototypingandtestingteamsall worktogetheronthe same problematthe same time to
findthe bestsolution.