Engineering reuse: a framework for improving performance

Reuse of assets presents a significant opportunity for improving the performance of most manufacturing firms, where the subject is usually approached on an ad hoc basis. The challenge is to measure and improve performance, focusing on key assets. Effective engineering reuse draws on existing assets such as modules, designs, processes, suppliers and teams at lower cost than starting again from scratch. Successfully applied, the concepts reduce the cost of innovation, engineering and technology management processes in the firm. Excluding the recycling and reclamation of waste products and also the buying in of assets from another company, typical examples of successful reuse are: reusing product platforms in order to gain reduced time to market for new products and increased market coverage reusing designs to reduce development time, cost and risk standardising parts to gain advantages of high volumes This paper presents a framework for reuse drawn from literature and industrial research. The framework consists of two parts. Firstly, a characterisation schema for reusable assets, based on standard definitions of technology, which addresses the 'what' of reuse; and, secondly, a reuse process model which uses a data flow diagram to highlight the agents, processes and data flows that support and facilitate engineering reuse. The outline of a practical reuse methodology is also given, based on the framework.