Organizational changes in product development in various process industries

This paper discusses organizational changes in development projects in various process industries due to new product development. What brings this change forward and what kinds of problems need to be solved for the companies so that they can carry out this change? What role does the strategic competence supply play in this organizational change in product development projects? Does an industry's tradition matter in this matter of change? The companies in the study are in various kinds of industries, from ore to dairy industries. The research is based on telephone and personal interviews. The purpose is to give implications of what kind of trend there is today in various industries and what impact this trend has on the organization of product development projects. It is indicated that process-oriented industries like ore, steel, and paper, are heading towards a more customer-oriented view in product development projects. The role of supplier and customer in product development projects has changed today and this influence the role of a product developer and competence requirement to projects.