Rapid Conceptual Design: Towards a Viable Informed, Automated and Interactive Process

The present automotive product development environment is characterised by the customer’s thirst for new, innovative and affordable products. This imposes a shorter Product Development Process (PDP). A healthy concept definition, and control, at the early PDP stages results in successful end products. A key factor of which is an upfront knowledge assessment and integration between the ‘true’ customer’s needs and marketing/finance, product design/engineering and manufacturing functions. The Common workspace in all these functions is considered to be the product model.