60 Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Time-to-market and concurrent engineering in
product development processes
Alemu Moges Belay*, Tauno Kekäle and
Petri Helo
Department of Production, University of Vaasa,
PO Box 700, FI-65101,Vaasa, Finland
E-mail: albel@uwasa.fi E-mail: alemu2016@yahoo.com
E-mail: tke@uwasa.fi E-mail: phelo@uwasa.fi
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Nowadays time based strategy has become a competitive weapon for
many industries. This article investigates whether companies should always
follow learning curve for all types of innovation and products or not. New time
to market model is proposed and compared with previous model by Prasad
(1997). Products of 6 to 36 months market window time are considered and the
results of revenue loss from these two models are different. This gives an
insight for managers to take appropriate decision on which for what. From the
result, Model I would be appropriate for continuous innovation and modified or
extended products whereas Model II for discontinuous innovation and
breakthrough products.
Keywords: time to market; concurrent engineering; CE; product development;
discontinuous innovation; continuous innovation.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Belay, A.M., Kekale, T.
and Helo, P. (2011) ‘Time-to-market and concurrent engineering in product
development processes’, Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 10, No. 1,
pp.60–84.
Biographical notes: Alemu Moges Belay is a PhD student at University of
Vaasa, Finland and has few years experience in companies. His research
interest is concurrent engineering, collaborative product development,
sustainable product development innovation and statistical quality control.
Tauno Kekäle is a Research Professor in Department of Production, University
of Vaasa. His research interest is product development, TQM, innovation and
knowledge management. His papers have been published in several
international journals.
Petri Helo is a Research Professor in Department of Production, University of
Vaasa. His research interests are in the area of technology management and
production/operations management. His papers have been published in several
international journals.