In product engineering processes, foresight analyses are typically conducted only at early project stages, while their underlying assumptions remain largely unchallenged as development progresses. This can lead to late design changes and increased correction costs when environmental conditions, technologies, or market requirements evolve. To address this gap, this paper applies a systematic approach for continuous monitoring and validation of product properties throughout the product engineering process. The approach integrates strategic foresight, environmental scanning, and indicator-based monitoring into a continuous feedback loop that enables early identification of relevant deviations from expected developments. The approach is demonstrated using a case study from the project Country to City Bridge (C2CBridge), a research initiative focused on developing user-centered, intermodal mobility solutions. The application is deliberately limited to the vehicle concept to ensure methodological clarity. The results show that systematically linking trends, prognoses, indicators, and product characteristics allows the identification of sensitive product properties and key indicators that are critical for long-term product robustness. Furthermore, the case study reveals methodological refinement needs, particularly regarding evaluation schemes, normalization of assessment scales, and usability in practical application which is partially implemented. Overall, the findings indicate that continuous monitoring can significantly enhance decision-making robustness and adaptability in long-term product development under uncertainty.

Keywords

Foresight, methods, mobility, needs, product engineering.