Example Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge

A customer of ours is looking to re-shore manufacturing, into the United States, of the  production of medical equipment. Today the process to produce this product requires  intensive repetitive labor and therefor they are mainly done in developing countries where  wages are low and labor social benefits are scarce.

Considering the constraint of the final product price, the actual manufacturing method  requires a thorough revision and as a result, breaking paradigms in an innovative and  creative way to develop a new process.      Selection

Our team has gone through various sessions where information previously recollected is  presented and idea brainstorming is encouraged. There is a lot of information about the  product, the process and strategies for the business model that require correct  organization in order to analyze better and take the best innovative decision to move  forward.       A project that aims to re-shore a manufacturing process has so many variables that a tool  to organize all the data and find creative solutions was required. Mind mapping is the  selected tool that the team used to work and present with.        Application

We started discussing the overall project and then we divided the group in two: one for the  manufacturing process and the other for the business strategy. We then subdivided into  smaller teams to discuss even smaller processes.

Once in groups, the first step for every team was to put individually in a post-it every idea.  When everyone was finished each individual had to step to the front, read out-loud the  idea to the small group and “glue” it into the wall. Once all the ideas were “glued” the  selection process started. The leader, previously voted, of each team read each post-it and  started creating sets of themes that presented a pattern.

With different sets created, the mind-map structure of each team was formed. We finalized  with a presentation of each team and feedback from everyone. A final mind-map that  included the information of all the teams was constructed. The mind-map is still a “living  process” when new information is obtain or a new idea is generated we are going back to  enrich the content even more.

Insight  It is really rewarding to look back at the first notes, compared them to the current ones and  learn that the process really helped to come up with creative solutions. One learning is that  mind mapping is a process that is very enriching when more than one person is involved  and that everyone adds up better methods to organize it.      Currently, when some one new needs to learn about the project, in an overall or even a  very detailed manner, the mind-map tool is used.  The understanding of the process and  the engagement that results is much better, as said in the course, compared to a common  report.     The two most important points after the exercise are that:

-  For the business: there are a lot of “hidden” costs that need to be taken  into account so that the final price for a product made overseas vs one  made in a developed country is comparable.

-  For the manufacturing process: the process for the material waste is as  important as the process to manufacture the product itself.

Approach

The process followed for this project allowed us to tackle, in a very organized manner,  every aspect so that the project is successful. Now we are in the process to answer the  What if question of the Design Thinking model. Everyone is motivated to construct a model  were everything and anything is possible to then mold it to a sustainable profitable  business.

For the next project, or even to improve the one that we are working on I would ask each  participant to work in their own mind-map so that everyone brings to the table a richer  conversation.


Example Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge A customer of ours is looking to re - shore manufacturing , into the United States , of the production of medical equipment . Today the process to produce this product requires intensive repetitive labor and therefor they are mainly done in developing countries where wages are low and labor social benefits are scarce . Considering the constraint of the final product price , the actual manufacturing method requires a thorough revision and as a result , breaking paradigms in an innovative and creative way to develop a new process . Selection Our team has gone through various sessions where information previously recollected is presented and idea brainstorming is encouraged . There is a lot of information about the product , the process and strategies for the business model that require correct organization in order to analyze better and take the best innovative decision to move forward . A project that aims to re - shore a manufacturing process has so many variables that a tool to organize all the data and find creative solutions was required . Mind mapping is the selected tool that the team used to work and present with . Application We started discussing the overall project and then we divided the group in two : one for the manufacturing process and the other for the business strategy . We then subdivided into smaller teams to discuss even smaller processes . Once in groups , the first step for every team was to put individually in a post - it every idea . When everyone was finished each individual had to step to the front , read out - loud the idea to the small group and “ glue ” it into the wall . Once all the ideas were “ glued ” the selection process started . The leader , previously voted , of each team read each post - it and started creating sets of themes that presented a pattern . With different sets created , the mind - map structure of each team was formed . We finalized with a presentation of each team and feedback from everyone . A final mind - map that included the information of all the teams was constructed . The mind - map is still a “ living process ” when new information is obtain or a new idea is generated we are going back to enrich the content even more . Insight It is really rewarding to look back at the first notes , compared them to the current ones and learn that the process really helped to come up with creative solutions . One learning is that mind mapping is a process that is very enriching when more than one person is involved and that everyone adds up better methods to organize it . Currently , when some one new needs to learn about the project , in an overall or even a very detailed manner , the mind - map tool is used . The understanding of the process and the engagement that results is much better , as said in the course , compared to a common report . The two most important points after the exercise are that : - For the business : there are a lot of “ hidden ” costs that need to be taken into account so that the final price for a product made overseas vs one made in a developed country is comparable . - For the manufacturing process : the process for the material waste is as important as the process to manufacture the product itself . Approach The process followed for this project allowed us to tackle , in a very organized manner , every aspect so that the project is successful . Now we are in the process to answer the What if question of the Design Thinking model . Everyone is motivated to construct a model were everything and anything is possible to then mold it to a sustainable profitable business . For the next project , or even to improve the one that we are working on I would ask each participant to work in their own mind - map so that everyone brings to the table a richer conversation .