Conference,
A View of the Practice of Integrated Product Development at EMBRAER
(2000)
Abstract
During the last two decades the practice of companies from various
industrial sectors has consistently shown the importance and impact
of their product development processes on their competitiveness.
Indeed, it appears that companies employing superior product development
processes are always able to bring new products to the market faster,
with better quality and lower costs. The consequence is that they
are able to take advantage of the market opportunities more efficiently
than their competitors.
In this context, and as a means to keep its competitive edge in a
global and highly competitive industrial sector (aerospace industry),
Embraer, throughout its history, has continually invested in improving
and enhancing its product development practice. At each new Program
new tools, philosophies, organizational formats and methodologies
have been extensively tested and implemented.
Embraer clearly recognizes that continuous improvement is only possible
after a strong understanding of the process that shapes, and provides
the structure, for the product development practice. Furthermore
real and long-lasting improvements are only possible by focusing
on the concurrent improvement of each
of the four dimensions that defines Embraer�s product development
practice (organization, processes, planning and tools).
Different companies understand and develop products in different ways.
The goal of this work is to present the state-of-the-art of the product
development practice at Embraer. Each of the dimensions that defines
Embraer�s Integrated Product Development (IPD) practice are presented
and discussed. The key achievements in the recent years in each of
these dimensions are exploited. The common problems and difficulties
in the adoption and implementation of these improvements in the practice
are presented, along with alternatives to overcome these difficulties.
