R&D Project Management (TM9-20-106)

SynopsisManaging an R&D project requires a different set of expectations and tools for the manager. This is about the effective management of the design chain - the chain of activities that brings an idea into a set of "blueprints" that define how a new product can be built for the marketplace.

Emphasis will be placed on teaching the reality that management skills are equal, if not more important than technical excellence, for an R&D manager. Powerful toolsets for R&D managers will be covered in details. In addition, the manager will be exposed to the construction of key decision rules to help effective decision-making at each phase of the project.

This course is designed specially for the new or aspiring product development manager. It is structured in such a way that will allow the participants to learn the theoretical foundations of R&D management and then gain exposure to some of the key management tools that are commonly used by successful technology companies.

The concept of the design factory will be covered in this class. The main challenge is how we could adapt tried and true factory management concepts into the management of highly versatile and unpredictable knowledge intensive activities typical of any R&D project. The idea that designs are actually the end products of R&D initiatives, and therefore, must be planned and managed in a similar way as running a production factory may disrupt the continuity of product development roadmap and impede the creativeness of R&D talents.

R&D is ultimately about knowledge conversion. Knowledge is about people. The ability of the R&D manager to create the right culture of innovation is critical to the success of this function. In this class, we have included a module to show how you can achieve this objective.

Course Highlight
This course will be conducted by an experienced R&D and Technology manager with extensive exposure in managing R&D projects on a global scale with a well known international technology company.

What previous participants say about this course
Answers to the question 'what did you like most about the course'

• "The concept of a R&D planning process and the overall perception of a R&D organisation" - 26 Sep 05
• "A lot of real life examples are given. Lively and able to help to relate on how to implement it" - 26 Sep 05
• "(3x) The return map" - 26 Sep 05
• "Queue theory & capacity planning" - 26 Sep 05
• "The instructor is very knowledgeable, enthusiactic and interesting material" - 23 Jan 06
• "Product architecture and specs, queue theory/capacity planning" - 23 Jan 06
• "Found out what I didn't know but should know" - 23 Jan 06
• "The valuable working experience. Opinion and all the best known method to improve/apply in my R&D dept" - 23 Jan 06

What You Will Learn

• What is R&D and how it creates value - the design factory concept
• Product development life cycle ?the design chain
• Project planning and execution processes
• Design for manufacturability and quality
• Costing and measuring R&D performance
• Partner development
• Organization culture for R&D

Who Should Attend

• R&D managers/Product development managers
• Engineers preferable with some experience in projects
• Project leads
• Manufacturing managers
• Business managers

PrerequisiteSome experience in leading technical projects is preferable.

Course MethodologyThis course is conducted in a seminar room. Each participant will receive a set of course material.

Course Duration2 days, 9am - 5pm

Course StructureDay 1
The Design Factory

• Introduction
• The roles and responsibilities of the R&D project manager.
• The design factory concept
• Project economics Lunch break Thinking tools
• Making profits, not products, decision rules
• Queue management
• Using information effectively
• Some key project planning tools

Day 2
Project Planning and Execution

• Product Development Process
• Tracking product development teams
• Project scope setting and resource planning
• Post product release and par value

Creating The Right Culture

• Managing creativity
• Making good decisions
• The winning culture