Institute of product development, Technische Universität München

Abstract

The Institute of Product Development of the Technische Universität München (TUM) belongs to the faculty of mechanical engineering and consists of about 30 people of whom approximately 20 are researchers. The development of competitive and innovative products and the optimisation of the respective product development processes are the main focus of the institute.The institute's aim is to support industrial product development by the generation and adaptation of effective methods, tools, and strategies (see Figure 32.2).This is complemented by competent and practical education of students and specific knowledge transfer into industry. Research focuses on the flexible use, adaptation and implementation of methods in industry, on computer support of product development processes and the use of virtual reality, on cost management, distributed product development, knowledge management, functional analysis, innovation, variant management and mass customisation, sustainable development, empirical design research and rational design theory, system theory and interdisciplinary work. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2005.