Review and outlook of work breakdown structure for complex product manufacturing

One of the key problems in complex product manufacturing is the lack of support for multiple management-oriented perspectives in the design and implementation of work processes. If we do not comprehensively analyse and understand the characteristics of complex product manufacturing projects, we cannot make the decomposition results of a work breakdown structure (WBS) effectively guide the work processes. The purpose of this paper is to develop a research framework for understanding the development and usage of WBS in complex product manufacturing by synthesising theory from project and manufacturing operations management disciplines. This framework must identify how to effectively deliver the information from management requirements to the work process that supports the manufacturing process. To accomplish this purpose, we analyse research in project management and compare the results to characteristics of complex product manufacturing. From this analysis, we design a unique framework of WBS construction and usage in complex product manufacturing and suggest future research directions.