The Integrated Concurrent Enterprise

PSI: A Framework for CE Analysis
Berndes and Stanke (1996) proposed a framework that concurrent engineering leaders could use to guide the development of their processes. Keeping in line with the spirit of CE, we should define a measure of performance in terms of product and process innovation as well as speed, flexibility, and completeness. Their three “guiding principles” form the basis for the analysis this chapter will propose. The degree to which each product design process displays a balance between parallelization, standardization and integration (or “PSI”) can help predict the relative levels of performance each team will attain. Together, these principles incorporate the key subjects of the three questions posed at the end of Chapter 1 – technology, people, and process. The PSI criteria are therefore a comprehensive foundation for analyzing current processes and proposing a new organizational model.