Decoupling of Product and Production Development in Flexible Production Environments

Abstract The integration of production development in product development methodologies is one of the most promising current research topics for shortening time-to-market of development projects. In flexible production environments new products shall be produced by the adaption of the existing production system. The characteristics of production system adaption differs substantially from a new development of a production system. This paper analyzes effects of flexible production environments on integrative development methodologies and how to match inconsistencies in a united approach. The focus was placed on simplifications of established methodologies and a new approach considering these simplifications is presented.