The impact of complexity on New Product Development in the Engineer-to-Order context : a case study from the aerospace industry
Visagie, Jonathan Gerhardus and Whitfield, Robert Ian and Evans, Dorothy (2025) The impact of complexity on New Product Development in the Engineer-to-Order context : a case study from the aerospace industry. Proceedings of the Design Society, 5. ISSN 2732-527X (In Press)
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Abstract
This paper examines the impact of complexity on New Product Development (NPD) within the context of an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) organisation. A descriptive literature review identified three categories of complexity: organisational, process and product complexity. The influence on NPD performance due to the dimensions contained in these categories are investigated in terms of the Law of Requisite Variety. A case study of NPD at Héroux-Devtek Inc., a landing gear supplier, evaluates these dimensions in practice. The findings reveal that increased organisational complexity often improves NPD performance, while increased process complexity reduces NPD performance. Product complexity evolves from being 'complex' initially to 'complicated' or 'simple' at delivery. Insights into managing these complexities contribute to understanding their role in achieving project success in the ETO context.
ORCID iDs
Visagie, Jonathan Gerhardus, Whitfield, Robert Ian
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Item type: Article ID code: 92472 Dates: DateEvent24 March 2025Published24 March 2025Accepted29 November 2024SubmittedSubjects: Technology > Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > Engineering design
Technology > Manufactures
Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics > Aeronautics. Aeronautical engineeringDepartment: Faculty of Engineering > Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management
Strategic Research Themes > Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Faculty of Engineering > Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management > National Manufacturing Institute ScotlandDepositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 28 Mar 2025 09:45 Last modified: 28 Mar 2025 10:02 Related URLs: URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/92472