Compact teams: A model to achieve lean in product development

Lean thinking has been applied with the purpose of improving product development (PD) performances by eliminating non-value adding activities (wastes) and creating flow. However, companies are struggling to realize Lean PD in practice and leverage on its principles to improve performances. The paper aims to introduce a model called compact teams (CTs). It is deduced from a real case company that has obtained significant improvements in implementing it. The case is an Italian company named Carel Industries (www.carel.com), which designs and produces products in Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioner and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) markets. Brief literature reviews are made on the lean principles and wastes in PD. Moreover, the paper presents the performance benefits of the model that are obtained in the case company.