Learning and Knowledge Systems in Product Development Environments

Companies have introduced and implemented many different initiatives to improve organizational learning and knowledge structures in product development and innovation processes to gain competitive advantage. However, these applications are not straightforward as they include principles and practices that have to be transferred and contextualized into functional areas that differ significantly from manufacturing. In this article, we seek to determine to which extent R&D intensive manufacturing companies relate their practices to the knowledge component of Lean product development, and the degree to which associated practices and capabilities are implemented. The overall goal is to determine how companies that operate in different market places assess their learning performance, and thereby gaining new insights into strategies for more contextual implementation of learning and knowledge strategies in engineering functions. A survey is conducted in the Norwegian manufacturing industry to investigate these practices from the construct of a generic model as basis. The survey was answered by 306 respondents from 50 companies, providing the opinion of individuals to rate their current learning practices and capabilities on a maturity scale for a set of assessment statements, including a supplemental set of performance and productivity related items. The results indicate that there seems to be significant differences between industry sectors with regards to learning and knowledge performance. It is concluded that this study has revealed and opportunities for companies to improve upon the way organizational learning is managed and executed as a means to develop and sustain a culture for continuous improvement in engineering functions.