concurrent engineering: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Professional, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “concurrent engineering” mean?
An integrated product development approach where design, manufacturing, and other processes occur simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An integrated product development approach where design, manufacturing, and other processes occur simultaneously rather than sequentially.
A systematic method where multidisciplinary teams work in parallel from the project's outset to improve quality, reduce costs, and shorten time-to-market.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in concept and frequency. Spelling remains consistent. No significant regional variation.
Connotations
Strongly associated with manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and software industries in both regions.
Frequency
Equally common in technical/professional contexts in the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “concurrent engineering” in a Sentence
[Subject] adopts concurrent engineering to [purpose].Concurrent engineering involves [gerund phrase].The team used a concurrent engineering approach for [project].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concurrent engineering” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm decided to concurrent engineer the new vehicle platform.
- We need to concurrent engineer this from the outset.
American English
- The company will concurrent engineer the product line.
- They plan to concurrent engineer the entire system.
adverb
British English
- The teams worked concurrently on the design and production.
- They developed the components concurrently.
American English
- Design and testing proceeded concurrently.
- The departments operated concurrently.
adjective
British English
- The concurrent-engineering model saved considerable time.
- A concurrent-engineering mindset is essential.
American English
- They adopted a concurrent-engineering framework.
- The concurrent-engineering initiative paid off.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A project management strategy to reduce product launch timelines and improve cross-departmental collaboration.
Academic
A research topic in engineering management, operations research, and systems design journals.
Everyday
Rarely used outside professional contexts; may be simplified as 'doing all parts of a project at the same time'.
Technical
A specific methodology employing tools like DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) and involving concurrent work on design, testing, and production planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “concurrent engineering”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “concurrent engineering”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concurrent engineering”
- Using 'competitive engineering' (wrong word).
- Treating it as an adjective alone ('concurrent' is part of the noun phrase).
- Confusing it with 'concurrent processes' in computing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it originated in manufacturing, it is now widely applied in software development, construction, and other complex project environments.
The primary benefit is reduced product development time and cost, achieved by identifying and solving problems early in the design phase.
It is facilitated by tools like PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software and digital mock-ups, but it is fundamentally a methodology and organizational approach.
Concurrent engineering focuses on parallelizing distinct phases (e.g., design and production), while Agile focuses on iterative, incremental development cycles, often within a single domain like software.
An integrated product development approach where design, manufacturing, and other processes occur simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Concurrent engineering is usually professional, technical, academic in register.
Concurrent engineering: in British English it is pronounced /kənˌkʌrənt ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈkɜrənt ˌɛndʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Breaking down silos through concurrent engineering.”
- “Design for manufacturability from day one.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONcurrent engineering = teams work CONcurrently, not one after another.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IS AN ORCHESTRA (all sections play together in harmony, not sequentially).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary antonym of 'concurrent engineering'?