Abstract
Lean Product Development (LPD) promises high product development success by strongly relying on knowledge. Though, despite many IT-based knowledge management tools exist to support and enable knowledge capture, use, formalization and reuse in product development, such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, their use within the LPD context is either low or not discussed. This research aims at starting a debate on the role such technologies could have in LPD applications and product development success. The study involves two independent empirical research initiatives, one in France and one in Italy, and launches a discussion on the role of PLM in customer value definition in LPD initiatives.