Improving the Efficiency of Improving Efficiency – Re-engineering the RD Organization

摘要

Systems engineering tools were first used to improve the quality and efficiency of the systems that were produced for sale to the customer. These same tools were then applied to the manufacturing systems that produced these products to allow for more efficient production. It is time to move the focus farther up the line and apply the tools to the systems that support and produce the manufacturing systems. By using a systematic approach to the organization and management of the R&D organization, increases in efficiency can be derived that can either be used to reduce near-term costs or be leveraged to gain even greater returns through re-investment in technology development. This paper looks at the process of re-engineering the R&D organization using systems engineering tools.