A system dynamics analysis of the interactions between multidimensional collaboration and collaborative product development cycle time

Inspired by Three-Dimensional Concurrent Engineering (3DCE) (Fine, 1998), the authors propose the concept of multidimensional collaboration and establish a System Dynamics (SD) model to analyse the effect of multidimensional collaboration on Collaborative Product Development (CPD) cycle time through a case study of a Taiwanese high-tech electronics company. We also induce five key decision factors of implementing multidimensional collaboration in the CPD process: Product Data Management (PDM) maturity, collaborative Engineering Change Management (ECM), Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) information platform readiness, Supply Chain (SC) concurrency and IPR concurrency. After deploying the operational definitions of the factors and finishing SD modelling, the authors conduct expert interviews in S company in Taiwan's thermal module industry to elicit practical data. Through computer simulation and Design of Experiment (DOE), which helps modellers identify significant experimental factors, we can observe their effects on reducing the CPD cycle time. In this way, the authors wish to consolidate the SD model to approach as closely as possible the operational context in the real world and enhance learning for the practitioners of CPD in high-tech sectors.