Make-to-concept: new approach to innovation management

This paper examines the “make-to-concept” approach to innovation management as applied to supply networking of Complex Product Systems (CoPS). This is differentiated from the “make-to specification” approach typically applied to mass production, where there is early freezing of a design concept. It is argued that the body of knowledge on “make-to-concept” is not well understood, especially in the application of supplier networks and its role in CoPS manufacturing. Evidence is presented from a literature review of the main concepts. The paper is written to invite preliminary discussion on key issues in make-to-concept, prior to fieldwork.