An industrial products manufacturer recently completed a new product development project and conducted a Lessons Learned Analysis with its project teams and functional support groups to determine areas for improvement. The goal was to learn what could be immediately applied to the next generation of product development scheduled for the next business year. They grouped their learning areas into five categories: recurring problems related to critical performance dimensions, crucial activities and tasks, cross-functional coordination, development speed, and decision making. A survey was designed to ask questions in each category and the project team members and support personnel completed the questionnaire. Results were tabulated and reviewed in a roundtable discussion to further enhance the learning process.
Lessons Learned
The learning derived from the survey and discussion of the results highlighted several opportunities for immediate improvements, including eliminating late-feature inductions through a design freeze guideline, more upstream involvement from the support groups through the establishment of a formal multifunctional team structure and commitments, early role clarification, and better decision-making processes through a set of team operating procedures and team norms.
Insights for Future Project Teams
- Build the team climate and culture. Establish team norms for early identification of problems, rather than waiting and creating bigger problems down the road.
- Create a risk assessment for new technology and new features. Build adequate time and contingencies into the schedule.
- Conduct in-depth supplier audits to ensure capabilities and commitments are met.
- Consider using project leads for major subprojects. This will provide opportunities for the project manager to delegate more.
- Show some reluctance to move project team members between ongoing projects. This can create gaps at critical times during the product development cycle.