"Your ability to keep producing great work as well as reacting fast to our numerous new requests or tickets has been outstanding." - Project Coordinator
Case study: Remediate a distressed programme through improved data discipline
Complex engineering programmes are often incredibly complex and span multiple geographies. With many different stakeholders, tracking and approving design changes is essential.
An EV start-up manufacturer approached QR_ to eradicate operational inefficiencies and build a solid foundation for traceability, awareness and iterative improvement.
Case study: Remediate a distressed programme through improved data discipline
Our client, a market leader in commercial vehicles, selected QR_ to help consolidate and manage data from two different sources in order to accelerate the time to market for their state-of-the-art ambulance.
The aim was to support its product development community's dynamic and rapid working style.
1. Challenge
Lacking fundamental PDM capabilities and processes, the client's processes were highly manual and required significant team resources. Reports and KPIs were generated offline and occupied the equivalent of 50% of a full-time project manager every month. A lack of robust data also proved to be a barrier to unlocking full operational potential, with additional time lost checking for and rectifying data errors. These challenges, combined with the fact that users could not communicate within the toolset, resulted in a lack of clarity around decisions and significantly hindered operations. To resolve these issues, QR_ was engaged to develop a solution that would prioritise data discipline and process implementation to support the client in the design of cutting-edge electric vehicles across multiple platforms.
2. Approach
The first step was to develop and document a set of foundational PDM processes that would enable effective and efficient decision-making throughout the programme. With the processes defined, attention was then turned to the BoM design and management, capturing the ‘as is’ state before designing part attributes to ensure smoother production schedules. Lastly, to manage ever-evolving part design changes – from highlighting their need, to tracing and auditing their usage – QR_ implemented Engineering Change Control & Configuration Management.
3. Outcome
The newly developed processes have been instrumental in providing a solid foundation for traceability, awareness and iterative improvement. As a result of introducing in-tool comments and setting up stakeholder and SME workshops, there is now enhanced communication and alignment across the organisation. In addition to this, through QR_’s guided implementation planning, buy-in has been secured to ensure early and full adoption of new processes.
4. Feedback
"Your ability to keep producing great work as well as reacting fast to our numerous new requests or tickets has been outstanding." - Project Coordinator