Engineering design leadtime drivers analysis

Abstract

Leadtime is one of the most important performance metrics in the engineering design organization of General Motors' Truck Group. Because of the many variables that influence leadtime. It is not clear where efforts should be focused to improve leadtime. Quantitative models for the variables affecting leadtime were developed and by quantifying their relative impact on Overall during the key variables were identified. Key variables address time spent in design rework. time waiting for information/definition, time waiting for resources, and the base design time for a new vehicle program. The variables influencing leadtime are captured in an influence diagram. The influence diagram shows the relationships among the variables and is supported by quantitate models that can demonstrate design leadtime sensitivity to changes in the model's variables and parameters. In addition. the analysis provides qualitative insight which is useful for framing recommendations about specific improvement tasks or projects. The analysis of this thesis focused on leadtime delays. The variables related to the turnover of certain designers. to the tome waiting for information from design center (styling) and to the time waiting for information from suppliers are the key drivers of leadtime for the engineering systems on the critical path of a program. Moreover. the considerable variance that is observed in overall leadtime indicates that control of variability in the company's development processes will also lead to significant system improvements. A second part of this thesis includes an analysis of action plans 10 reduce restaffing delays.