Performance Assessment &
Process Improvement
Challenges & Objectives
The client is engaged in developing new electro-mechanical products for field applications in energy exploration. Products range from multi-million dollar "one-off" systems to small, linked, sensors numbering in the thousands.
Client believed that their current development process was outmoded, inflexible and lacked the rigor necessary to significantly improve product quality. Moreover, recent field results indicated unacceptable levels of product failure.
Challenge: to update Client's Product Development sequences, improve product consistence, and to concurrently establish a more flexible review and approval process.
The Work we did
Kiron first conducted extensive literature searches and personal interviews with academic and industry experts to determine the "state-of-the-art" practices in product development.
We identified key gaps between client practices and best practices to provide direction for process improvements. Kiron then organized and conducted facilitated group sessions to identify the most leveragable actions and to develop the next steps to capitalize on these areas.
Kiron additionally identified and screened outside experts in several key elements (e.g. six sigma) of the new process and coordinated with them to provide on-site consultative expertise.
Results
Client implemented a comprehensive new Product Development Process which was subsequently transferred to other Corporate Divisions.
Field failure rate decreased significantly as a result of employing new techniques identified and implemented through Kiron's participation.
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