A Conceptual Model for the Implementation of Lean Product Development

Abstract

Companies are faced with the need to address their product development challenges innovatively in order to stay competitive in today's market. One way of doing that is the integration of lean thinking in their product development process. However, due to the lack of clear understanding of the lean thinking performance measurements, the near absent of a holistic and unifying measuring method and the near or non-existence of an evaluating conceptual model to allow for the evaluation of the performance of the lean product development processes, many companies are unable to fully implement the lean thinking principle in their Product development process. In dealing with these issues, this article has therefore proposed a conceptual model which is based on some core critical success factors for the examination of lean performance in the product development process.