Lean Product Development Organization

Industry : Orthopedics

The client

The client is a developer of orthopedic devices and instruments used in neck & spine surgeries. Its annual sales are approximately $120M in the US and globally.

The Challenge

The client was suffering from a major recall, less than average product introduction rate, and launch delays, all of which lead to budget overruns.

The Solution

We performed an assessment of Product Development Maturity (PDM) which revealed a composite score of 2.1 out of 4.0. We then applied our integrated approach to product development improvement output and productivity.

The initiatives included process redesign, project governance/reporting, team communication, training, project templates, project management tools, and training in project management and product development.

The Team

The team consisted of Sam Wakeel, Stacey Trick, two analysts, and the client's R&D senior management, eight content leaders, and others.

Preliminary Results

• Improved communication through process mapping and robust status updates
• Improved accountability through robust roles & responsibilities
• Improved team skills through simple actual-project-driven training
• A single location for project related details through an integrated process that's available online
• Reduced project planning from 30 days to 5 days through a robust project management template

Results - Long term

We expect to double the number of product launches per year.

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