UGM’s Professor Subagyo Champions Creative and Sustainable Product Management

On October 7, 2025, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) inaugurated Dr. Subagyo from the Faculty of Engineering as Professor in Product Management. His address, titled “Product Management: Managing Creativity for Goodness and Welfare,” focused on innovation, sustainability, and the evolving role of engineers in today’s industrial landscape.

Key Insights from Professor Subagyo’s Inaugural Speech

Balancing Efficiency with Innovation and Differentiation

Advances in communication and information technology have enabled companies to mass-produce with high efficiency and accuracy. However, Subagyo warned that without innovation, products risk becoming commoditized as many competitors quickly adopt similar production technologies.

“Mass production with similar efficiency causes products to degrade into commodities,” he noted.

Importance of Non-Functional Product Attributes

Beyond functional uniqueness, Subagyo emphasized that branding, aesthetics, personal values, and cultural identity add critical value and distinction for consumers, helping products maintain a competitive edge.

Adapting to Shorter Product Lifecycles with Concurrent Engineering

The industrial environment demands faster product development cycles. To meet this, Subagyo advocated the use of concurrent engineering, where design, testing, and production run simultaneously, streamlining innovation and reducing costs.

“Investment feasibility must be analyzed comprehensively across all parallel products.”

Tackling Environmental Impact through Policy and Innovation

Highlighting the surge in disposable, convenience products and their environmental toll, Subagyo proposed an economic policy introducing a ‘waste excise tax’ on products generating significant waste. This would incentivize sustainable product innovations aligned with environmental responsibility.

Expanding the Role of Industrial Product Engineers

Industrial engineers today must go beyond efficient production processes to actively participate in ‘productization’, ensuring engineering practices foster greater productivity and socio-technical system development. Collaboration between engineers and product designers is essential to meet rapidly evolving industrial challenges.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Professor Subagyo’s vision aligns with key SDGs including:

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

His approach integrates creative engineering with sustainable development, promoting welfare and prosperity through innovative product management.

About Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Faculty of Engineering

UGM’s Faculty of Engineering continuously fosters thought leadership in sustainable science and technology, supporting Indonesia’s commitment to innovation and global development challenges.

Source: Universitas Gadjah Mada News, October 2025
Author: Cyntia Noviana | Edited by Gusti Grehenson | Photography by Donnie Trisfian

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