A STUDY ON THE DESIGN COLLABORATION OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES : Research on the Japanese watch company

Abstract

This paper illustrates new product development model collaborated by a Japanese watch company with its eleven partners. Many manufacturing companies are participating in design collaboration to create new products domestic and/or international. The authors conducted in-depth interview with the designers and managers to investigate the current status of collaboration as an example of manufacturing company. And then, gathered each case of collaboration types co-worked with this company. Subsequently, design collaboration has been examined by new product collaboration process: the direction of communication, the intensity and richness on the interaction, the size and the scope of the design team and support the whole new product collaboration effort. As a result, we propose a new classification of companies who are trying to adopt collaboration as a tool for differentiation, especially in design. Work relationships between partners were divided into three groups and evaluated according to degree of designer's involvement. We suggest a design checklist and collaboration categories based on our results.