The Benefits of Using Wave Iterations to Evaluate Functions and Define Innovative Design Solutions: An Applied Systematic Review

Abstract

The search for competitive advantages in today’s industry necessitates a shift in the approach to developing economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable products. A critical aspect of this approach is evaluating a product’s functions and linking them to its manufacturability to reduce costs and achieve a more balanced design that aligns with customers’ perceived value and actual manufacturing costs. Despite this, there is a lack of significant research on methods that connect the various stages of the integrated product development process. This paper begins by conducting a comprehensive review and content analysis of recent research to identify the current state of research in this field. Next, it proposes a model that aims to strike a balance between the value of a product’s functions and the cost of implementing solutions throughout the product development process. To test the proposed model, it was applied to a real-world example from the consumer goods industry. The results demonstrate the relevance of the gathered information, the feasibility of the method, as well as its specificities, impacts, and limitations.