Design for Value Chain - An Integration of Value Chain Requirements into the Product Development Process

Various factors like an increase of the product variety lead to an increase in complexity both at the level of product and the level of the value chain design. A study has identified the need to integrate the supply chain requirements into the product development process. This paper will describe the Design for Value Chain method as well as the findings by applying the approach at Drager. From the analysis of the value chain, the identification of complexity and its drivers, individual requirements to the requirements engineering are derived. Those value chain specific requirements are categorised and thematic areas and procedures of Design for Value Chain are explained to support the value chain specific requirements engineering.