Points for improving new car development efficiency (from management point of view) 2000-05-0226

The improvement of the efficiency in new car development is one of the most important subjects to every automobile company and various methods have been adopted for the improvement. As many divisions participate in the new car development over a long period, it is important that every division concerned advances the development in step with each other. In other words, an appropriate management in the new car development will contribute to the development efficiency very much.

As one of the ways to solve this subject, many automobile companies adopt a system whereby the company appoints a new car development project coordinator (hereinafter referred to as "the coordinator") from the R&D division, and gives him the broad authority of managing and coordinating the new car development as a conductor from commencement to completion of development. I will clarify the points to be considered in order to advance the new car development efficiently, by mentioning the role of this coordinator in order of development sequence based on my experience.