SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT FACTORS FOR LEAN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

All members of the supply chain, including manufacturers, face new challenges in the post-epidemic era. The latest method for businesses to survive is to efficiently develop new products that meet customer needs while ensuring the flexibility of their supply chain. The widespread applicability of lean thinking appears to afford businesses the opportunity to construct the optimal product development process. Systematic research on the combination of lean and the new product development process is crucial for guiding enterprises to success in Lean Product Development (LPD). However, there is no consensus on the successful management factors (SMFs) for the LPD. In this context, utilizing systematic review techniques, this study analyzed and discussed pertinent research results on LPD in order to investigate the new connotation of relevant factors under the concept of product development. The results indicated that under the classification of the four dimensions “General”, “Process”, “People”, and “Tools/technology”, the 10 SMFs, such as “Systematic information management structure” and “Chief engineer”, have a broader definition, which also reflects the transition from material flow to information flow in the context of product development. The objective, comprehensive new definition helps scholars understand the multifaceted aspects of SMFs and practitioners make decisive decisions.