Concurrent Engineering: A Research Paper on Advanced Topics

This research paper provides an overview of concurrent engineering, its benefits, barriers, and implementation. It also discusses the recommended elements that should be considered before implementing concurrent engineering.

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CONCURRENT ENGINEERING
A Research Paper on Advanced Topics By
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Keywords
Concurrent Engineering, waterfall model, concurrent design, the design process
1. RESEARCH CONTEXT
1.1 Overview
Concurrent engineering is a process by which numerous sections and sub-sections within an
organization simultaneously work to develop new services and products. The time taken to attain
a new product to the market is significantly reduced by engaging in numerous aspects of the
concurrent development. Concurrent engineering is considered one of the emerging methodology
in any manufacturing or construction industry.
1.2 INTRODUCTION
Concurrent engineering is a method of developing and designing products such that different
phases run simultaneously and not consecutively. This approach minimizes the development
duration of a product and the duration to market the product, this results in the improvement in
the productivity and decreased costs.
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Concurrent engineering is a long-term strategy of an organization, with long-term advantages to
the organization. Concurrent engineering is a method of work that emphasizes the performance
of tasks simultaneously using the integrated product team method. The first is that the design
activities should all be occurring at similar moments which suggestively increase the product
quality and productivity of production (Kusiak, 2011). The second concept is the idea that all
components involved in the life cycle of a product from recycling, final disposal, environmental

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impact, maintenance, testing, assembly, production, and functionality all should be taken into
serious consideration during initial stages of designing (Backhouse, 2009).
2.2 Benefits of Concurrent Engineering
Concurrent engineering concept enables workers on numerous phases to simultaneously work
hence shortening the duration to market. These activities also minimize the excessive testing,
unworkable prototypes, and reduce design revisions to attain a product of the highest quality
(Parsaei, 2012).
2.3 Barriers to Concurrent Engineering
Some of the challenges and barriers that affects the implementation of the concurrent
engineering include resistance of employees to adhere and accept production changes which
incorporates concurrent engineering, failure of suppliers, lack of property coordinated team, lack
of enough knowledge and expertise on the application of concurrent engineering, and also lack
of staff and management commitment (Leondes, 2014).
RESEARCH METHODS
The research methods adopted in this research on the concurrent engineering include review on
the publications published by organizations that have implemented the concept of concurrent
engineering such as the Toyota Company, surveys, and interviews with the organizations that
have successfully implemented the concept of concurrent engineering (Kusiak, 2011).
3.0 DATA COLLECTION
The concept of concurrent engineering replaced the Waterfall model or the traditional sequential
flow. In concurrent engineering, an integrated or iterative method of development is used

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instead. An important part of the concurrent design approach is that the person is provided with
more authority in the entire process of design because of the collective nature of the concurrent
engineering. The correct implementation of the principles and concepts of the concurrent
engineering into the construction practice gives important advantages to the stakeholders of the
project such as reduced cost and time while improving the process efficiency and quality of the
product (Leondes, 2014).
4.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Concurrent engineering is a process by which numerous sections and sub-sections within an
organization simultaneously work to develop new services and products. The concept of
concurrent engineering replaced the Waterfall model or the traditional sequential flow. Before
the implementation of the concurrent engineering, some of the recommended elements that
should be considered include project management, concurrent product realization, and cross-
functional teams.

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5.0 Bibliography
Backhouse, C., 2009. Concurrent Engineering. Toledo: Gower Publishing, Ltd.
Kusiak, A., Sullivan, W., 2011. Concurrent Engineering: Automation, Tools, and Techniques. New York:
John Wiley & Sons.
Leondes, C., 2014. Concurrent Engineering Techniques and Applications: Advances in Theory and
Applications. London: Elsevier.
Parsaei, H., 2012. Concurrent Engineering: Contemporary issues and modern design tools. Michigan:
Springer Science & Business Media.