Reflection: Learning Launch

Challenge:

I work in product engineering department in my organization. In one of my recent projects my challenge  is to design a cooling system for construction machine and reduce the cost. As that will be a Global  solution for large segment of the market where we were competing with a machine which more  specified than what competitors offers. To reduce cost Design team, have a goal to develop a solution  for those markets. The project is limited to internal resources. In the start the project scope included an  engineering team of 9 members and cross functional team from marketing and customer support. This  portion of project was spanned over 60 days and included customer interviews, technicians’ interviews  and internal stakeholders and provide an aligned solution that works its intended function.

Selection:

As a team, we have utilized tools of systems engineering and DFSS to capture voice of customer mainly  internal. We decided to utilize learning launch tool which is meant for quick testing of ideas and  prototype. This tool would give us validate our hypothesis, test our key assumptions, and perform tests  to collect confirming as well as discomforting data.

Application:

In our learning launch, we started on creating a hypothesis based on the need of those customers who  want less price of a machine. So, we start collecting data and assumptions of the machine covering  technical specs, customer service needs and cost parameters. So, we begin the cost analysis on each and  individual component and identify what part of the machine can be change significantly so that we can  reduce the cost of the product significantly and that hypothesis should meet the functional working of  the vehicle and meet the current performance. So, one of the major scope is redesign the cooling  system of a vehicle. Team started working on different parameters for each individual area and ensure  that our assumptions should be tested. There were different ways like Virtual Validation through  analysis, Customer interaction, service need analysis to test those assumptions. We managed to  leverage visual tools and customer interviews to perform test to collect meaningful insights. we  structure our tasks, specific meetings, reviews, to become more agile.

The assumption we collect we design the test for them and conducted them and confirm the data that  this the way forward that we need to proceed with to solve the problem.

Insight:

Learning Launch tool is very beneficial. By applying the learning launch tool our team identified the need  of the customer thus we have an idea, and we test that idea as well as gained deeper insight on other  key assumptions of performance aspects cost assumptions. Testing assumptions helped in making

timely decisions on continuing development and make changes to product specifications which are key  in later phase of product launch. Moving forward, our team will review this insight and incorporate it  into future launch designs.

Approach:

Given that our team has already gone through several design thinking activities/tools and are at this  stage in the timeline, the learning launch is the appropriate tool. As team wanted to come up with  meaningful ideas in short span and test assumptions to pick a favorable idea forward. Team then  designed methods to test assumptions by discussing with customer and technicians, performing  simulations. Next time I would use the Learning Launch tool activity as a focal point for a series of design  thinking activities.


Reflection : Learning Launch Challenge : I work in product engineering department in my organization . In one of my recent projects my challenge is to design a cooling system for construction machine and reduce the cost . As that will be a Global solution for large segment of the market where we were competing with a machine which more specified than what competitors offers . To reduce cost Design team , have a goal to develop a solution for those markets . The project is limited to internal resources . In the start the project scope included an engineering team of 9 members and cross functional team from marketing and customer support . This portion of project was spanned over 60 days and included customer interviews , technicians ’ interviews and internal stakeholders and provide an aligned solution that works its intended function . Selection : As a team , we have utilized tools of systems engineering and DFSS to capture voice of customer mainly internal . We decided to utilize learning launch tool which is meant for quick testing of ideas and prototype . This tool would give us validate our hypothesis , test our key assumptions , and perform tests to collect confirming as well as discomforting data . Application : In our learning launch , we started on creating a hypothesis based on the need of those customers who want less price of a machine . So , we start collecting data and assumptions of the machine covering technical specs , customer service needs and cost parameters . So , we begin the cost analysis on each and individual component and identify what part of the machine can be change significantly so that we can reduce the cost of the product significantly and that hypothesis should meet the functional working of the vehicle and meet the current performance . So , one of the major scope is redesign the cooling system of a vehicle . Team started working on different parameters for each individual area and ensure that our assumptions should be tested . There were different ways like Virtual Validation through analysis , Customer interaction , service need analysis to test those assumptions . We managed to leverage visual tools and customer interviews to perform test to collect meaningful insights . we structure our tasks , specific meetings , reviews , to become more agile . The assumption we collect we design the test for them and conducted them and confirm the data that this the way forward that we need to proceed with to solve the problem . Insight : Learning Launch tool is very beneficial . By applying the learning launch tool our team identified the need of the customer thus we have an idea , and we test that idea as well as gained deeper insight on other key assumptions of performance aspects cost assumptions . Testing assumptions helped in making timely decisions on continuing development and make changes to product specifications which are key in later phase of product launch . Moving forward , our team will review this insight and incorporate it into future launch designs . Approach : Given that our team has already gone through several design thinking activities / tools and are at this stage in the timeline , the learning launch is the appropriate tool . As team wanted to come up with meaningful ideas in short span and test assumptions to pick a favorable idea forward . Team then designed methods to test assumptions by discussing with customer and technicians , performing simulations . Next time I would use the Learning Launch tool activity as a focal point for a series of design thinking activities .