Time is on its side

Setting an aggressive timetable for new product innovation software sounds pretty logical when you consider that the customer is wristwatch maker Timex.

Timex has deployed Sopheon's Accolade offering to help manage its product portfolio. The enterprisewide rollout, which encompasses all departments and executive management, took just 60 days, according to a recent news release from Sopheon.

Faced with the emergence of alternative timekeeping devices from competitors, such as cell phones, PDAs and computers, Timex realizes that continuous technology innovation is critical to its success. Consequently, the company innovates its core line while expanding its product portfolio to include multifunction wrist pagers, compasses, heart monitors and thermometers.

Timex's implementation of the new system is integral to its adoption of Stage-Gate, the widely used product development methodology. Timex chose Accolade because it is designed to support stage- or phase-based product development processes and to strengthen process governance and throughput.

"We set a very aggressive timetable for our rollout of Accolade," says Bernd Becker, VP of product development at Timex. "Given the complexity of the implementation and the level of configuration required, I never expected that Sopheon would finish on time, but they did ... Some of the first reactions to Accolade came from senior management. They were immediately impressed by the level of detailed information the system gave them, and the ease with which that information could be accessed. With the solution in place across our organization, we are doing a better job of managing our R&D investments, and we are fully realizing the benefits of Stage-Gate."