Dimensional management practices to improve product development: application at a brazilian automotive plant

Abstract

This paper aims to propose improvements to the process of dimensional management that is currently practiced in a Brazilian vehicle manufacturing plant. A review of the Dimensional Management for the Product Development enabled us to propose a construct of work practices that are designated to be inserted into the product development of the plant. A critical analysis was subsequently performed in a sample of dimensional nonconformities that occurred late in the product development phases. To avoid that nonconformities, a set of dimensional management practices for the plant was established in accordance with the construct. The proposed practices cover the whole process of new product development. The paper explains how a set of work practices was established for two identified process failures in detail for better illustration of the proposed methodology. It is supposed that the implementation of the new set of practices has supported the product development team to develop better vehicle quality and reduce the costs and cycle timing.