Learning Launch

Challenge    I am a process engineer and use to work on industrial equipment improvement for which we have  sensors etc that helps us gather a significant amount of data which we can then analyse and draw  evidence of drift/wear/etc, and best action to be taken.  I have recently move into another division of the company and looking after technical service  improvement & innovation for personal medical devices. Here the challenge is very different, we still  can collect data from the equipment, but we also need to understand how the consumer/patient is  using it, and what are the most important features or functionalities to trouble shoot and to innovate  or create new solution.  Our challenge is to create solutions that can be adaptable to different people needs, so we needed  to come with a solution that has different options to better serve our customers. Going to commercial  manufacturing of new devices implies fully customised new production equipment which come at a  high cost.    Selection  We have initially worked through all the data we had but this was not relevant to our needs,  analytical data were not the way to go, therefore we engaged into design thinking approach.  After doing ethnological survey/interviews we identified different profile and needs amongst each.  To validate our hypotheses, we decided to go for learning launch using prototype and small number  of testers.    Application    For our first learning launch, we decided to focus on a specific profile, and execute  option/customization of device for self-monitoring of sugar level in blood for diabetic kids.  We had originally identified kids as a gap in our consumers range, and during the surveys we  realised our equipment were not adapted enough for them and came with different possible options  to make them more kids friendly.  We prepared 3 prototypes of each of these options (from physical change to the device like lighter  weight battery, smartphone application or kids friendly interface and new colours).  We then proceed to introduce these options to new panel and gathered their feedbacks    Insight   By applying the learning launch tool, our team identified the most valuable new options/features for  young customers, based on scalability of the most popular options we were able to activate further  development, and refined our feedback via additional prototype testing and then manufacturing and  commercialisation of these. In the meantime, we moved to the other profiles we had identified and  looked first at all the options which could be produced same process equipment which helped us to  move even faster to build the prototype.     Approach   Given the need for real consumer feedback regarding practicality and appeal of the options  (especially for young kids) the learning launch using prototype they could use and bring along  seemed the best approach to be able to communicate the options clearly to the young consumers.

