Measurement of Lean product development efficiency

The aim with the project is to study if and in that case how it is possible to measure efficiency and productivity gains due to the implementation of methods, tools and working practices related to a Lean product development philosophy (Lean PD) in the Swedish industry. The project will, especially, analyze how this can be stated, how one can and should measure this, and how it is possible to trace a productivity gain to a certain Lean PD activity or action.

The results of the project will tell whether or not it is possible to identify effects from implemented methods, tools and working practices related to Lean PD. If effects can be traced, the project will show these, i.e. effects related to time-, cost- and quality aspects, how these effects can be related to what have been implemented as well as how to measure this. Hence, the project will show, if possible, suitable measures that are related to the studied phenomena, i.e. the implementation of Lean PD, and methods for measurement of these effects. The project will not be able to generalize conclusions about how big these effects can and will be due to the limited empirical sample.

The project will follow the ongoing implementation of a Lean product development philosophy at Swedish company, Saab Training System (STS) in Jönköping. In principle, the project consists of the following six steps: 1-An analysis of the task for the development organization at the studied company along with working practices, resources and resource utilization, etc. 2-An analysis of the initial Lean PD efforts at STS, what has been done, what is there to do and the logical sequence of these activities. 3-Identification of suitable areas/activities that are important to measure in order to identify effects, and the development of measures for these. 4-The collection of data and the measurement of the productivity development for the identified areas/activities that Lean PD aims to address. 5- The analysis and conclusions regarding different Lean PD actions effect on the productivity development, both on sub activity level and if possible on an aggregated level. 6-The development of a system for continues follow up of the productivity development for the areas/activities that has been identified.