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SUMMARY:Paradoxes observed in the Engineering Design Practice - Dr Guiller
 mo Aguirre - LatIPnet (Strategic Product Development firm)
DTSTART:20080708T153000Z
DTEND:20080708T163000Z
UID:TALK12772@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Thomas Jun
DESCRIPTION:There are paradoxical situations considered an inevitable part
  of product\ndevelopment in the corporate world. Three of such situations 
 are:\,\n\n1. Large investments are required for the development of new pro
 ducts.\nHowever\, the financial cost of those same investments can end up 
 eating up\nproduct margins. The paradox being companies invest more to end
  up with less\nprofitable products.\n\n2. There is a market urge urge to i
 nnovate. However that seems to work\nagainst what can be described as the 
 timelessness quality of a product. The\nparadox being that in seeking what
 's new companies risk loosing what's best.\n\n3. Vast amounts of experienc
 e is accumulated as part of the product\ndevelopment process. However\, ve
 ry little of this experience is\nsystematically used. The paradox being\, 
 the more experience companies\naccumulate\, the harder it gets for them to
  apply it.\n\nIt is no wonder then\, that the development of new products 
 can become\ncorporate battlefields in which fierce confrontations between 
 internal areas\nof a company take place\, all parties genuinely seeking th
 e best for the\ncompany.\n\nSound understanding of Engineering Design and 
 its timely application can\nmake a big difference in improving the managem
 ent and control of large\nproduct development projects\, avoiding costly c
 onfrontations\, increasing the\nprofitability of the design process\, and\
 , in summary\, help in solving some\nof the paradoxical situations just de
 scribed.\n\n*Biography*\n\nGUILLERMO AGUIRRE completed his PhD at CUED in 
 1990 under the supervision of Ken Wallace. He then worked as CTO for Whirl
 pool Mexico and other large corporations\, participating in the developmen
 t of many of of their current product lines. He was appointed Under Secret
 ary of Technology in the Mexican government for the 2001-2007 mandate with
  the task of increasing innovation in Mexican industry.\n\nHe currently ru
 ns a Strategic Product Development firm\, he is one of the\nfounding membe
 rs of LatIPnet\, an international business innovation network\nand regular
 ly lectures at MIT and other universities on these subjects.\n
LOCATION:Meeting Rooms 1A+1B\, (off the Oatly Lab)\, 2nd Floor\, Engineeri
 ng Department
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