How to build teamwork in the defence industry

In order to survive in today’s current downsizing within the defence sector, Hughes Aircraft Company has risen to the challenge by emphasizing teaming efforts, re‐engineering and adopting concurrent engineering process methods and has developed the integrated product development (IPD) management philosophy. The vehicle by which this philosophy will be implemented is integrated product teams (IPTs). Provides an overview of the process that was developed. Covers the definition of IPD, hurdles facing the IPT’s team dynamics and offers a conclusion. Notes that IPD philosophy was developed not from new techniques but by using existing teaming methods and that the main thrust of the new philosophy is the customer. Identifies one of the key philosophies as being the use of common terminology.