Fhe Case Study

Answer the Questions:

1. What steps should Donaldson take to improve the new-product development process at FHE?

The first step that Donaldson need to take to improve the new product development process is to make the Materials Manager part of the Design team. This will eliminate problems that arise in the manufacturing stage, hence eliminating many of the recalls that the company is having. The next step for Donaldson need to take is to identify specific responsibilities that belong to each department, and then create an integration department where the materials manager is included. By clearly outlining tasks and specific goals along with adding the input of the manufacturing department should increase efficiency and at the same time reduce the workload of the engineering department.

The final step is to evaluate the plans and the expected results from the new CAD-CAM system. This system would stream line the new product configuration and eliminate many of the problems that the company currently has regarding production and communication. Donaldson also needs to improve the workload of the engineering services department.

1. What could be done to clarify the organizational relationship among product managers, technical program managers, and manufacturing managers?

* To clarify the organization relationship among product managers, technical program managers, and manufacturing mangers is to use CAD-CAM System as a way to coordinate among of three.

* Current primary and secondary tasks has to revise by each department and set specific goals to ensure that all issues are being identified, addressed and resolved. Management needs to ensure that there is no doubt about which department is responsible for each task.

* Each department has to involve during each stage of the new product development.

* Bring the Materials Manager on board to the Design Team so that during the Design Stage, potential manufacturing problems can be addressed and prevented with the help of a member with manufacturing knowledge. This will reduce the number of problems that have risen in past manufacturing stages and product recalls that have occurred.

2. What can be done to better manage the work load of the engineering services department?

Engineering Department needs an advance notice for new products from technical program managers. Has to create an organized schedule for new product projects and have a regular forecast of engineering services for coming years. This will help to stagger the services needed from the engineers and avoid bottleneck situations within the engineering department. FHE should have the engineering services department participate during the marketing stage where the company needs to evaluate the