Subject category:
Production and Operations Management
Published by:
Harvard Business Publishing
Version: 27 March 2006
Length: 24 pages
Data source: Field research
Abstract
As the engineering of state-of-the-art jet engines becomes more and more complex, Pratt & Whitney leaders face major competitive problems. Product development projects are not meeting the cost, quality, and lead time targets. The leadership develops a design, development, test, and launch system that treats the engineering resources as a factory and carefully designs and manages the work flows, engineering activities, and hand-offs between tasks. There is promising initial success but some question whether the 'Engineering Standard Work' system stifles creativity and whether it is appropriate for the work of other professional functions.
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Abstract
As the engineering of state-of-the-art jet engines becomes more and more complex, Pratt & Whitney leaders face major competitive problems. Product development projects are not meeting the cost, quality, and lead time targets. The leadership develops a design, development, test, and launch system that treats the engineering resources as a factory and carefully designs and manages the work flows, engineering activities, and hand-offs between tasks. There is promising initial success but some question whether the 'Engineering Standard Work' system stifles creativity and whether it is appropriate for the work of other professional functions.