Product Planning Tools

This chapter provides descriptions of tools used for product planning. The primary tools involved in the early stages of product planning include (a) benchmarking and breakthrough, (b) Pugh diagram, (c) timing charts and gateways, (d) quality function deployment (QFD), (e) failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), and (f) other product development tools such as business plan and computer-aided design (CAD). The steps involved in the vehicle product planning include (a) attending auto shows, non-automotive product shows (e.g., other consumer product shows), technology shows, exhibitions, and conferences to search for new product ideas, applications of new technologies and concepts, (b) keep abreast with changes in the government regulations that would apply to future vehicle programs, (c) benchmark recent vehicles and vehicle concepts introduced by leading competitors all around the globe, (d) study available information on future product plans of your company as well as those of your leading competitors, (e) study market trends, and (f) develop product plans for future vehicle products.