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Agile Innovation in a Manufacturing Company: How Tetra Pak Evolved Its Product Development Process.

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Authors: Cooper, Robert G. (AUTHOR) robertcooper@cogeco.ca, Ingby, Jonas (AUTHOR) Jonas.ingby@tetrapak.com, Källrot, Clara (AUTHOR) Clara.kallrot@tetrapak.com, Mott, Peter (AUTHOR) pm829@bath.ac.uk, Vedsmand, Tomas (AUTHOR) tomas.vedsmand2@tetrapak.com
Source: Research Technology Management. Jul-Aug2025, Vol. 68 Issue 4, p42-51. 10p.
Subject Terms: *New product development, *Manufacturing industries, *Packaging industry, *Continuous improvement process, *Rapid prototyping, Agile software development, Engineering management
Company/Entity: Tetra Pak Inc. 082714692
Abstract: OVERVIEW: The article explains how Tetra Pak, a global manufacturing company, revamped its product development process (PDP) by transitioning from the traditional Stage-Gate model to a new innovative process that integrates Agile, Lean, Stage-Gate, the Scaled Agile Framework for enterprises (SAFe), and systems engineering methods. The design and implementation of the PDP at Tetra Pak offers insights into how this new process enhances quality, increases throughput, and improves the management of complex engineering products with substantial hardware content. It also highlights valuable lessons from the transformation journey. We present lessons learned that innovation managers and practitioners can apply to accelerate their companies' product development processes. This article focuses primarily on the new product development (NPD) process, with less emphasis on the transformation methodology and the change management process. Practitioner Takeaways: Set the foundation first: Build on proven engineering capabilities, combined with Agile best practices. Focus on product maturity: Measure product progress, not task completion. Embrace a learning approach: Build-learn-adapt the new process with committed leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Entrepreneurial Studies Source
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cooper%2C+Robert+G%2E%22">Cooper, Robert G.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> robertcooper@cogeco.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ingby%2C+Jonas%22">Ingby, Jonas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> Jonas.ingby@tetrapak.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Källrot%2C+Clara%22">Källrot, Clara</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> Clara.kallrot@tetrapak.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mott%2C+Peter%22">Mott, Peter</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> pm829@bath.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vedsmand%2C+Tomas%22">Vedsmand, Tomas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> tomas.vedsmand2@tetrapak.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Research+Technology+Management%22">Research Technology Management</searchLink>. Jul-Aug2025, Vol. 68 Issue 4, p42-51. 10p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+product+development%22">New product development</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Manufacturing+industries%22">Manufacturing industries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Packaging+industry%22">Packaging industry</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Continuous+improvement+process%22">Continuous improvement process</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rapid+prototyping%22">Rapid prototyping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agile+software+development%22">Agile software development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Engineering+management%22">Engineering management</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tetra+Pak+Inc%2E%22">Tetra Pak Inc.</searchLink> <searchLink fieldCode="DN" term="%22082714692%22">082714692</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: OVERVIEW: The article explains how Tetra Pak, a global manufacturing company, revamped its product development process (PDP) by transitioning from the traditional Stage-Gate model to a new innovative process that integrates Agile, Lean, Stage-Gate, the Scaled Agile Framework for enterprises (SAFe), and systems engineering methods. The design and implementation of the PDP at Tetra Pak offers insights into how this new process enhances quality, increases throughput, and improves the management of complex engineering products with substantial hardware content. It also highlights valuable lessons from the transformation journey. We present lessons learned that innovation managers and practitioners can apply to accelerate their companies' product development processes. This article focuses primarily on the new product development (NPD) process, with less emphasis on the transformation methodology and the change management process. Practitioner Takeaways: Set the foundation first: Build on proven engineering capabilities, combined with Agile best practices. Focus on product maturity: Measure product progress, not task completion. Embrace a learning approach: Build-learn-adapt the new process with committed leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ent&AN=185818897
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/08956308.2025.2498587
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 42
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: New product development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Manufacturing industries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Packaging industry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Continuous improvement process
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      – SubjectFull: Rapid prototyping
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      – SubjectFull: Agile software development
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      – SubjectFull: Engineering management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tetra Pak Inc.
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      – TitleFull: Agile Innovation in a Manufacturing Company: How Tetra Pak Evolved Its Product Development Process.
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              M: 07
              Text: Jul-Aug2025
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              Y: 2025
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