Silent revolution in the industry?
Companies would have to learn to adapt their way of production and their previous way of working to the increasingly complex and interdisciplinary products, underline consultants Invensity GmbH, an up-and-coming European technology and innovation consultancy with an international focus.
Lack of adaptation entails consequences, see the one-sided orientations of the automotive industry: Here, all disciplines - from mechanics to electrics, from development to vehicle design or IT communication - would have to be optimally intertwined. In the event of damage to one part of the system, they can hardly be considered separately, let alone simply replaced.
Engineers must therefore learn to think interdisciplinarily beyond the boundaries of their main areas of expertise in order to secure the diverse interfaces between the individual disciplines.
New way of working wanted
Volker Lippitz, Principal Consultant at Invensity, an expert in integrated working methods, speaks of a "silent revolution" in the way industry works: "More than ever, companies are being forced to deliver their products better, faster and more cost-effectively. In addition, products are becoming more complex as interdisciplinary challenges increase."
In order to reliably handle the interfaces between all the areas involved, you need not only a comprehensive range of processes, methods and tools, but also a working culture that is characterized by team and system thinking. The reward for this is a smooth, coordinated project flow with significantly fewer development errors.
Lippitz von der GmbH therefore recommends that industrial companies consistently avoid the serious consequences of poor project management with a new, adapted way of working. High-quality training as well as individual mentoring can promote the knowledge, talents and skills of the employees, nevertheless integral methods and competences should be implemented in the internal departments.
For more information and comparisons, see: www.invensity.com
