This paper discusses the need for and possible resistance to interdiscplinary education and development in the US business schools today. In‐depth structured interviews were conducted with executives from 12 companies located in the Mid‐Atlantic states of the USA, each of which is included...

Develops a new value stream or supply‐chain mapping typology. This seven‐map typology is based on the different wastes inherent in value streams. The use of the various tools, either singularly or in combination, is therefore driven by the types of waste to be removed. The tools themselves...

Concurrent engineering is all the rage in new‐product development. It is helping such US high‐technology firms as Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp. to improve their designs and get new products on to the market faster. But it throws up a number of important human‐resource problems....

Participation, teamwork, innovation, risk‐taking and empowerment. We all know the buzz words. But how do we bring the concepts successfully to fruition? Provides some important clues.

Describes a cross‐functional project team set up to address the standardization of fasteners used in the assembly of construction machinery. Identifies low priority given to fastener selection in the design department and a lack of effective inventory control as the causes of the excessive...

Most companies now openly accept the importance of innovation and new products to business success. As a result, the assumption would be that organizations are now actively implementing the deliberate management and measurement of the R&D processes that deliver these new products. However, it...