NPI projects often don’t have specific expert project management resource allocated. It commonly falls to design and development engineers to run projects in amongst their other responsibilities, without the cross-functional support for project activities or escalation of issues. This can result in a late launch into manufacturing with incomplete information and a stressful push attempting to deliver on time to the customer. Effective project management requires an simple agreed approach, clear communication, defined resources and strong support from the management team.

Common challenges during new product introduction are:

• Awareness of project management principles in teams
• Project planning skills with work breakdown and activity planning
• Effective project / programme monitoring and reporting
• Stakeholder management and communication
• Managing project risks, lessons and changes

This one day Essentials course has been developed to provide a rapid introduction to core Project Management Principles. They are most powerful when aligned and integrated with an effective NPI process (see our New Product Introduction Essentials course).