Systematization of existing uncertainties in the context of product development in the automotive supply industry

Along the development process of technical products, challenges arise repeatedly, which result from uncertainties, i.e., conscious, or unconscious gaps in knowledge or definitions. The causes often lie in the fact that empirical values represent the basis for many decisions, from the specification of tasks to the required organizational and control structures to the models and calculation tools used. Based on this knowledge, it is essential to continuously identify, evaluate and, if necessary, reduce the degree of uncertainty during the development of innovative products. This is intended to avoid potentially negative influences on the strategic goals of the magic triangle of project management (costs, time, and quality). This is exactly where the investigations started, using the example of an automotive supplier company. Completed projects are the starting point. A first focus is on the analysis of the effects of unclearly defined requirements and ambiguities in verification, validation, and end customer use. A second focus is the systematization, classification up to the provision of project-specific tools, which should facilitate the reduction of uncertainties already in early project phases.