Advanced Value Group, LLC

Kenneth Crow specializes in new product development (NPD) through the implementation of best practices; time-to-market and integrated product development concepts; product planning, tools and techniques such as QFD, DFM & target costing, project management, and NPD process improvement. He is also a Principal in PD-Trak Solutions, a software vendor providing tools for new product development process management, project management, portfolio management, and resource management. He is a distinguished speaker and recognized expert in the field of integrated product development. Ken's experience includes work in aerospace, automotive, capital equipment, consumer products, electronics and high technology, mechanical machinery, and medical equipment industries. He has conducted over 140 workshops and trained over 2,500 professionals and managers on subjects related to new product development.

Prior to this, he served as Vice President of the Professional Services Division of Western Data Systems, a supplier of manufacturing, engineering and business software, consulting and education. There he directed all customer education and consulting services and was responsible for product planning, and executive seminars. These services included planning, change management, education and training, technical services, system integration, and implementation consulting. Prior to WDS, Ken was Director of the Manufacturing Consulting Practice with a Big Six consulting firm in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for building a distinguished manufacturing consulting practice. He began working in the field of new product development in 1981 addressing issues such as configuration management/engineering change control, transition to production/product launch, and design for manufacturability. He began to evolve some of the initial concepts of today's integrated product development practices starting in 1982.

In these positions, he directed, managed and performed consulting work related to integrated product development, enterprise resource planning system implementation, design for manufacturability, design-to-cost, product development teams, business process reengineering, manufacturing management, and cost management. He has conducted over 200 engineering and manufacturing seminars and provided guidance to executive management on a variety of business issues and plans. Representative experience includes:

Assisted an electronic components manufacturer to define their product development process. This effort included establishing a phase gate and portfolio management process. We help implement the PD-Trak system which provided a set of tools to define the process along with templates for various project documents, helped plan and develop a business case for the project, provided a repository for project documents, and managed resource requirements.
Assisted a healthcare company develop a common product development process (PDP) with a special emphasis on design control that would be used across all business units. An in-house team was formed to develop this process by reviewing best practices in various business units. After the draft process was formulated, we reviewed the process description and suggested further changes and improvements principally focused on including a broader, multi-functional perspective and integrating the PDP with management processes for stage gate reviews, portfolio management, and pipeline management.
Assisted a large appliance company with a series of projects. We helped define and document their new product development (NPD) process and developed a handbook and web site describing this process. We defined a target costing process and integrated it into their new product development process. We conducted target cost training for key personnel. We help select and implement product cost estimating software to be used early in the development process to provide feedback on the cost implication of design decisions. We further conducted training on quality function deployment and value analysis. We facilitated four major programs define customer needs, develop a product strategy, and plan product requirements using QFD, target costing, value analysis, and early manufacturing involvement. This improved the product's value proposition, led to innovative solutions, reduced costs, and provided better focus on the real customer needs.
Assisted a large electronics firm with a initiative called DF* to address manufacturability, testability, diagnosibility, serviceability, and supply chain leadtime. We assessed the current NPD process, identified issues and opportunities, and developed a plan to improve the process. We provided assistance and guidance to the DF* team in developing an improved process, supporting tools, and design guidelines. We developed an extensive website and training program, and we conducted a series of workshops. Pilot programs were conducted and supported. Based on these pilot programs, refinements to the process, tools, web site and training were made. In addition, he provided QFD training to six sigma blackbelts and facilitated application of QFD on several projects.
Assisted a Korean firm to plan and develop a major product for a new market. Samsung had established a Value Innovation Program (VIP) Center to serve as an incubator for more critical, higher risk programs for its business units. While the VIP Center was very sophisticated in its use of best practices and NPD methods, it wanted assistance to further refine its use of these tools by applying improved methods on NPD programs. We assisted a major, high-risk program to analyze customer needs and facilitated their improved use of QFD. We worked with them to develop new focus group and QFD methods such as a feature evaluation matrix. We pushed them to develop a more effective and competitive product and marketing strategy. We also provided guidance with their sales and distribution strategy. We helped integrate a target costing approach with QFD and proposed a cost tracking system to support product development.
Reviewed the existing manufacturability initiatives, products, and production processes at several facilities at a major electronic contract manufacturer. Identified needed elements of a DFM/A process, developed a business case for investing effort in design for manufacturability/assembly, and developed a plan for creating DFM/A guidelines and review process.
Directed and undertook the improvement of the new product development process for an audio equipment manufacturer. This included process mapping, process improvement, procedure revision, streamlining process outputs, creation of a standard project planning template, development of a time tracking system and a resource planning system, development of a phase-gate process, development of a design review process and methodology, and training and facilitation.
Assisted an automotive supplier to develop a strategic plan for Engineering and a technology development plan. Performed a competitive assessment and, based on this, helped define a unique competitive focus. Facilitated establishing a vision and developing goals. Used QFD to plan tactics and programs in response to goals and prioritized and balanced with available resources. Also used QFD to prepare a technology development plan based on an identified set of customer needs and prioritized and balanced this plan with available resources. Facilitated a subsequent annual update to this plan.
Conducted a product development assessment at a British Aerospace business unit, developed a plan for improving their product development process, and worked with a division of this organization to improve their development process. We assisted with the implementation of a product data management (PDM) system by reviewing requirements, and developing the concept for how the PDM system would be implemented. We assisted to define the organization of product data, release levels and revision levels, and interfaces with other systems. We conducted training on integrated product development, product development teams, and quality function deployment (QFD). We also facilitated the use of QFD on one of their programs. We worked with another program to apply IPPD practices, develop a comprehensive project plan based on an IPPD and systems engineering approach, develop a team organization structure, and draft a IPPD handbook to support this program.
Provided training in Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and facilitated the application of these techniques on proposal development efforts and major development programs for products such as refrigerators, nuclear fuel assemblies, rocket motors, industrial gas turbines, auxiliary power units, fire control systems, storage area network, remote computer monitoring and servicing, aircraft battery, and others. Developed and licensed a QFD software and training program to a number of companies.
Worked with a major electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider or contract manufacturer to develop a strategy for assisting their customers enhance the manufacturability of their products. Surveyed existing products and process capabilities, identified needed elements of a design for manufacturability/assembly program, built a business case, and developed a program plan.
Developed a new product development assessment and improvement methodology based on 270 best practices identified and updated based on the last twelve years of our consulting, writing and speaking. Developed a software product based on this methodology that has been licensed to over 40 firms. Conducted Product Development Assessments using this proven methodology and established plans to improve the development process at a variety of manufacturers.
Assessed a $600 million development program at a defense logistics company and provided specific recommendations to improve the structure and operation of integrated product teams. Conducted teambuilding and IPPD training for the program and the business unit. Provided on-going guidance to the program and to the business unit.
Assisted General Motors and EDS develop a curriculum for an extensive concurrent engineering training program of over forty days in length. We supported this training program by conducting training in engineering economics, design-to-cost, value engineering, design for manufacturability, and product certification. We conducted twelve sessions for over 300 people.
Developed and conducted over 100 training programs for executive management and product development professionals. These workshops include the Integrated Product Development Executive Briefing, Product Development Best Practices Workshop, Team Building Workshop, Team Launch Workshop, Team Leader Workshop, Design for Manufacturability Workshop, Quality Function Deployment Workshop, Value Analysis Workshop, Design-to Cost Workshop, Target Costing Workshop, Requirements Definition and Concept Development Workshop, and many others.
Conducted training and implemented integrated product development practices at a protective equipment manufacturer, a semiconductor manufacturer, an instrument manufacturer, an avionics supplier, and at many other companies.
Managed a $4 million project to implement a MRP II system at a major aerospace prime contractor. Supported project planning and management. Assisted with enterprise integration. Conducted training programs.
Assisted with requirements definition, product planning and software evaluation projects for high technology companies, manufacturers, defense contractors, distributors, and other organizations.
Assisted several high technology and start-up companies develop business strategies, business plans and financial projections.

He has given keynote speeches, presentations and courses in North America, Europe, Israel and Australia on various aspects of integrated product development, design for manufacturability, design-to-cost, and quality function deployment. He has also written numerous papers and articles on these subjects and contributed to books on these subjects. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Best Practices Report and Time Compression Technologies and previously was on the Board of Advisors for Concurrent Engineering.

Mr. Crow received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a certified New Product Development Professional through PDMA, Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) through the APICS, is a Certified Configuration Manager through NDIA, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is a founding member, past President, and was on the Board of Directors of the Society of Concurrent Product Development. He is a member of the the American Society for Quality Control, the IEEE Engineering Management Society, the Product Development Management Association, and a life member of the Society of Concurrent Product Development.