Lean thinking comes to design and development

Product design and development processes could be twice as fast, efficient and accurate as today’s average, if they were subjected to ‘lean thinking’ principles. So says Dr Colin Mynott, managing director of engineering design research and training company TICS, lamenting that to date so little has been done in this direction. “If manufacturing industry in the UK is to survive, this is one of the vital areas that can make or break a company’s future prospects and therefore should operate in the most efficient way possible,” says Mynott. His company is offering a series of workshop courses in November, with support from the DTI and the Royal Academy of Engineering. They’re aimed at design managers and product designers, and promises to help you improve processes, counter threats from competition and increase profitability. Mynott: “As a result of the knowledge gained, delegates may typically wring 30—50% more output from development budgets, and halve the time it takes to launch new products. “They can do this by cutting the waste that may still exist in many processes. In addition, they will learn how to unlock funds available from the European Union to invest in new product development programmes.” Cost of the three-day workshop is £200 per day. Courses start on November across the regions throughout England. Go to www.mynott.com or phone 01788 822 313.