Valid for: 2023/24
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, LTH
Decided by: PLED M
Date of Decision: 2023-04-11
Elective for: BME4-bdr, I4, M4-pu, MD5, N4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English on demand
The course aims at introducing fundamental knowledge and understanding about strategies, terminology and methodology associated with product innovation and its main sub-processes, the product renewal and the product development processes. The primary focus is set on the strategic parts of the development process, i.e. product renewal including the establishment of the product renewal programme (product plan including a listing of product proposals to be developed by the company). The product development process is further examined in a deeper perspective than was the case in the undergraduate development and design courses, namely, Product Development and Design Methodology, Design Methodology and Biomedical Design. Especially, methods for sustainable product development are presented, and a number of established methods utilized in the product development process are scrutinized and critically reflected upon with reference to the latest research findings. Also the later phases of the product development process, not accounted for in the undergraduate courses, are described and discussed. The students are also expected to have gained such knowledge and understanding that they are able to reflect on and, if necessary, also to suggest improvements to existing product innovation process models.
Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must
Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must
Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must
Based on a general model of the industrial development process
of products, the product innovation course starts directly by
grouping the students in teams before the industrial development
project is launched. In parallel to the project work, the product
renewal process is introduced (a process specific to small and
medium sized companies that corresponds in general to the
traditional product planning process). As part of this process, a
suitable portfolio of development projects is generated, based on
the company’s product policy (itself derived from the company’s
overall business goals and from a market analysis). In the
subsequent part of the course, the product development process is
treated, with emphasis on the initial principle or, alternatively
put, concept development phase, but also including its other phases
if relevant for the actual project. Note that the implementation of
the product development part of the project under normal conditions
is very comprehensive and focuses primarily on the product solution
as such and not, as in the course MMKF01, on the process. In the
final part of the course the students deepen their knowledge on a
number of recognized methods and tools (with empahsis on
sustainable product development) utilizing the latest research
results in the field.
The project consists, in other words, of the following two
parts: the product renewal and the product development projects.
In the second part of the project, covering both concept
development but also including elements from the later phases such
as development of product architecture and detailed design, the
students develop one of the product proposals derived from their
product renewal project. The project is presented in the form of a
group report, as well as orally by the entire team in front of the
other teams and to the participating companies. The project is
carried out by teams of 4-6 students per team.
Grading scale: TH - (U,3,4,5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: The course includes a compulsory industrial project, which is carried out in groups of 4-6 students. The project work is graded with the TH scale (Fail, 3, 4 or 5). The project grade corresponds to the final grade of the course.
The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.
The number of participants is limited to: No
Course coordinator: Damien Motte, damien.motte@design.lth.se
Director of studies: Elin Olander, elin.olander@design.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.product.lth.se/education/courses/