R&D Management Optimization For Neophotonics Corporation

Research and development management is comprehensive activity in product development including organization construction, process design, cost control, project management, performance management and other related activities, which is based on product development theory and management tools, and according to the enterprise’s own product development characteristics. For scientific and technological innovation enterprises, the capacity of R&D management directly affects the enterprise in market competition and economic benefit, and is essential for its survival and development.Neophotonics is a supplier of optical components in fiber-optic communications industry, with its own product technology and R&D ability, the company has expanded rapidly and stand at the industry leading position, but with increased pressure on the external market competition, the capacity of R&D has not been greatly improved, and with the increase of the number of products, come out some issues in R&D management such as schedule delay, high cost, cross-functional communication difficulties, without enthusiasm toward work and etc.This paper takes Neophotonics as research object and analysis its current situation of R&D team-building, R&D process design, cost management, project management, R&D performance management, pointed out those deficiencies existing in the R&D organization, product development process, project operation, R&D cost assessment and management, R&D personnel performance appraisal, and worked out solutions for those issues.First of all, to adopt the matrix structure in project management organization, strengthen the leadership of project manager in product development team and inter-departmental resources integration and management ability. From the point of view of the investment income, reference IPD theory, improve the current product development process and stage gate review.Secondly, in order to strengthen R&D cost control, optimize cost management process and, re-design the project budget template according to the characteristics of the R&D activities and requirements of dynamic management. In addition, proposed the idea of R&D cost management platform including data collection, storage, processing and application.Finally, according to the characteristics of R&D personnel and sustaining improvement&promotion requirement of performance management, adopt the PDCA cycle theory to optimize the performance management process and content, and also improve performance incentives plan.