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Process Opportunity Analysis
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Quick Assessment of Short/Mid-Term Process Improvement Priorities for Mechanical
Product Development |
Why aren't we getting more from our investments in Product Development?
Despite the success-to-date of most CAD/CAM implementations, it is believed that
further, even more dramatic, benefits are achievable from a concerted and on-going effort
of process improvement. From our regular contact with over 100 user sites, we have found
that the vast majority of sites can point to only modest gains of about 10-15% improvement
in product quality and time-to-market. Yet other sites in similar industries and with
similar talent have achieved documented benefits upwards of 50% (a factor of 2x!)
improvement in product quality and time-to-market (see Assuring Success for specific examples).
What's the difference? Driving the implementation with and towards strategic objectives,
with the entire top-to-bottom team motivated and measured by the accomplishment of these
objectives. WAMware is available as a catalyst to make this happen.
Companies that implement CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM strategically have a competitive
sense of urgency for process optimization, with the software system used ever-more broadly as the
backbone of product development. These companies invest in their people through both
formal training and on-site mentoring. They have regular involvement of top management,
with in fact the drive for success beginning with management. They are able to change
their product development process including defining new metrics and milestones. In short,
they "manage" the implementation towards strategic business objectives.
WAMware has had the pleasure to participate recently as catalyst in
a number of process optimization activities. We have found that rather than initiating an
extensive, thorough "As-is/To-be" process planning activity, it is often more
logical to take a quick look at the existing process and identify clear opportunities for
short- and mid-term process improvement. This "Process Opportunity Analysis" has
been successful in giving a "running start" to new installations as well
as a "mid-life kicker" to existing sites with even many years of reasonable
success.
Objectives/Deliverables
After two days at your site, the WAMware "Process Opportunity
Analysis" (or POA) will…
 | Identify key opportunities for significant short/mid-term improvement in the
mechanical product development process. |
| Quantify each identified opportunity as to estimated resulting business benefit
and required investment. |
| Present recommended prioritized actions to the client's divisional top management
for approval. |
| Achieve management’s commitment to their greater strategic involvement in
the mechanical product development process. |
Approach – Process Opportunity Analysis
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| WAMware provides in advance a brief
questionnaire
form for key end users and managers… with the intent to stimulate thought and
creativity. |
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| The CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM support group at the client facility completes a support questionnaire and also collects existing information on
process flow and implementation plans. |
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| WAMware visits the client site. On the first day, WAMware:
| meets with the CAD/CAM/CAD/PDM implementation team (30 minutes) |
| meets with a collection of end users (45 minutes) |
| conducts live one-on-one interviews with 4-6 managers (30 minutes each),
including:
 | productline managers |
| potential "consumers" of the 3D product data such as manufacturing,
marketing/sales, purchasing/supplier-interface |
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| meets again with the CAD/CAM/CAD/PDM implementation team (30 minutes) |
| WAMware then prepares a management presentation |
| On the afternoon of the second day of the visit to the client facility, WAMware:
| Previews the analysis results with the CAD/CAM/CAD/PDM implementation team (1
hour) |
| Presents to divisional top management (1.5-2.5 hours) |
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Outline for Management Presentation -- (see also our "sample" POA presentation)
| Introductions (15 minutes) |
| Overview of Current Implementation Status and Key Benefits to date (the client
– 15 minutes) |
| Key Strategic Principles of Concurrent Engineering and Benefits Realized by
Companies Worldwide (WAMware – 45 minutes) |
| Process Opportunity Analysis (WAMware – 45 minutes)
| Activities Conducted |
| Opportunities Identified |
| Recommended Actions |
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| Discussion and Management Buy-in (15-45 minutes) |
WAMware Involvement
| Pre-visit Coordination |
1 day |
| Site Visit and Interviews |
1 day |
| Presentation Preparation |
½ day |
| Management Meeting |
½ day |
| Total WAMware Involvement |
3 days |
WAMware Qualifications
| On-going interaction with over 100 CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM implementations worldwide (USA,
Germany, Japan) |
| Extensive experience with all technical and implementation aspects (design, analysis, manufacturing, team data management, open architecture) |
| Neutrality and objectivity |
| Comprehensive, expert CAD, CAE and PDM-focussed services (training, projects, on-site
support, customization, implementation assistance, implementation planning, executive
advisor) via the WAMware implementation team |
… the experience, talent and drive to assure and accelerate successful
CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM implementations.
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