Mitigating technical risks by creative problem solving approaches

The more intensive the competition, the more a company's success depends on its ability to improve and renew its processes. Increasing complexity and interconnectedness of structure and process within production-related areas underline this. Risk oriented management becomes more and more important against the background of increasingly dynamic markets and the rising complexity within the corporate environment [1]. Increasing international interdependence in all business areas and attendant worldwide distribution of most products do not only increase the possible scale of damage, but also the consequences [2]. Especially the risk situation of manufacturers of risk sensitive products has intensified within recent years [3]. Cost intensive field and product recalls accumulate [4]. The direct resulting costs due to not detected risks may be of immense proportions and, in extreme cases, jeopardize the basis of existence for some com panies [5].