Professor James M. Utterback
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
The focus of this subject is on the management of process innovation and on economic and technological influences on manufacturing change. Interactions between research, development and engineering activities and manufacturing operations will be emphasized as well as product design and manufacturing processes.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Grades will be based on:
Active class participation based on regular preparation of assigned class materials, including participation in student panel discussions.
A substantive research project proposed and prepared individually, or in a group by prior agreement, due Friday, May 2. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to explore a topic of your choice in this subject in depth. (A one page abstract is due March 4).
READINGS
Required:
James Utterback, Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation, Harvard Business School Press, 1994. (Paperback)
Susan Sanderson and Mustafa Uzumeri,Managing Product Families, Richard D. Irwin, 1996.
James Womack, Daniel Jones and Daniel Roos, The Machine that Changed theWorld, New York: Rawson Associates, 1990. (paperback)
Marc H. Meyer, Alvin H. Lehnerd, The Power of Product Platforms New York: The Free Press, 1997.
Recommended:
James Womack and Daniel Jones, Lean Thinking, Simon and Schuster, 1996. (May be read as an alternative to The Machine...)
Karl Sabbagh, Twenty-First Century Jet: the Making and Marketing of the Boeing 777 (Companion to the Public Television Series), New York: Scribners, 1996.
Steven Wheelwright and Kim Clark, Revolutionizing Product Development, New York: the Free Press, 1993.
B. Joeseph Pine, Mass Customization, Harvard Business School Press, 1992.
Clayton Christensen, The Innovator's Dilemma: WhenNew TechnologiesCauseGreat Firms to Fail, Harvard Business School Press, 1997 (forthcoming).
PART ONE: THE DYNAMICS OF PRODUCT AND PROCESS INNOVATION
EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE
1. TU 2/4 INTRODUCTION: PATTERNS OF INNOVATION
Introduction in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
2. TH 2/6 PATTERNS OF INNOVATION: GENERAL MODEL
Chapters 1 & 2 in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
3. TU 2/11 PATTERNS OF INNOVATION: ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS
Chapter 3 & 4 in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
4. TH 2/13 PATTERNS OF INNOVATION: NON-ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS
Chapters 5 & 6 in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
TU 2/18 HOLIDAY, No classes Tuesday
REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE
5. TH 2/20 THE INNOVATOR'S DILEMMA
Preview of a forthcoming book by Prof. Clayton Christensen, Harvard Business School (Handout).
6. TU 2/25 STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
7. TH 2/27 STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Continued)
Guest: Prof. Alvin Lehnerd, University of Pennsylvania. Formerly Vice President of Operations at Black and Decker.
8. TU 3/4 INVASION OF A STABLE BUSINESS
Chapters 7 & 8 in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
9. TH 3/6 INVASION OF A STABLE BUSINESS continued
Guest: Prof. John Rydz, Univ. of Connecticut.
Formerly Vice President of Innovation at Singer.
10. TU 3/11 PRODUCT ARCHITECTURES AND FAMILIES
Chapters 1-3 in Sanderson and Uzumeri
11. TH 3/13 PRODUCT FAMILIES (Continued)
Chapters 5 and 7 in Sanderson and Uzumeri
12. TU 3/18 PRODUCT FAMILIES (Continued)
Chapters 8-10 in Sanderson and Uzumeri
Guest: Prof. Susan Sanderson, RPI
TH 3/20 No classes held
TU 3/25 Vacation
TH 3/27 Vacation
13. TU 4/1 LEAN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Chapters 1-10 in Womack, Jones & Roos, The Machine...
14. TH 4/3 LEAN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES (Continued)
Guest: Prof. Daniel Roos, MIT
15. TU 4/8 ALCAN'S ALUMINUM STRUCTURED VEHICLE
Guest: Ms. Germaine Gibara
Formerly President, Alcan Automotive Structures
16. TH 4/10 VOLVO'S HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Guest: Ms. Sylvia Voegele, General Manager and Director of Business Development, Volvo (By Video-conference).
17. TU 4/15 LEAN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES (Continued)
Guest: Dr. James Womack, Merlin, Inc.
18. TH 4/17 SYNOPSIS
TU 4/22 HOLIDAY, No classes Tuesday
PART THREE: PRODUCT AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT, SYNTHESIS
19. TH 4/24 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Douglas DC 3 Case)
The Plane that Changed the World (Video)
20. TU 4/29 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Student Panels)
21. TH 5/1 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Boeing 777 Case)
Mr. Al Mulally, Director of Boeing 777 Project. (Video)
22. TU 5/6 STRATEGIC PROCESSES
Chapters 1-4 in Meyer and Lehnerd
23. TH 5/8 MASS CUSTOMIZATION
Guest: Joe Pine, President, Strategic Horizons
24. TU 5/13 STRATEGIC PROCESSES (Continued)
Guest: Prof. Marc Meyer, Northeastern
Chapters 5-9 in Meyer and Lehnerd
25. TH 5/15 CORE COMPETENCIES, SYNTHESIS
Chapter 10 in Mastering The Dynamics of Innovation
The Research Paper:
The research paper may be either a library search, computer model, or field investigation in a specific subject area of your choice such as:
The evolution of product and production technology in an industry of your choice.
An investigation of manufacturing strategies in a specific industry.
The development and application of a new manufacturing technology, as applied to a specific industry or firm.
An illustration of "simultaneous engineering," "mass customization," "composite design," or other technique for development, improvement and integration of product and process technology.
A one-page abstract is due on March 4. The abstract will not be graded. It is simply meant as a starting point for us to use in discussing ways in which I may be able to help you develop your project.
The project is due on May 2. More detailed help with the projects will be available in individual consultations. This assignment must be typed or computer-generated text in 12 point type double-spaced and should not exceed twenty pages. Concise, effectively presented arguments will be rewarded.
A final word: it is far better to turn in a simpler and shorter paper on time than to labor intensively to do a more elaborate job that is late. Late final assignments will be reduced by one letter grade. If you are having difficulty with any assignment please let me know.
SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
March 4 - Abstract Due
April 29 - Panel discussion
May 2 - Research Paper Due