Improving design quality during new product development at Schaeffler

Prashant Reddy, Director of Engineering and Digitalization at Schaeffler Americas, discusses the importance of the design review process in engineering and manufacturing organizations. He shares insights into Schaeffler’s approach to digitalization and how adopting CoLab has transformed their design review process, improving collaboration, efficiency, and communication across teams. With a background spanning 19 years at Schaeffler, Prashant brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced in product development and the benefits of integrating innovative tools and processes to streamline workflows and reduce project risks.

Key Insights:

1. The Importance of Design Reviews: Prashant emphasizes that the design review process is crucial in every organization, involving multiple stakeholders from different functions such as product design, manufacturing, purchasing, and quality. Effective design reviews ensure that all aspects of a product are considered, minimizing risks and aligning teams towards a common goal.
2. Digitalization at Schaeffler: Schaeffler is committed to innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. Prashant’s role involves supporting the digital transformation of R&D processes, ensuring that teams have the right tools and methods to innovate and deliver products efficiently. Schaeffler's vision is to lead through innovation, agility, and efficiency, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040.
3. Challenges with Traditional Processes: Traditional design review processes at Schaeffler involved multiple tools and manual steps, such as using PowerPoint for presentations, Excel for action tracking, and various communication tools like Teams and Outlook. This fragmented approach led to inefficiencies, errors, and delays, particularly as product complexity increased with electrification and software integration.
4. Why CoLab? Schaeffler chose CoLab for its ability to consolidate all design review activities into a single tool, allowing for better tracking, collaboration, and communication. The tool's user-friendly interface and short learning curve made it easy for teams to adopt, reducing manual work and catching mistakes early in the process.
5. Project Implementation and Results: Schaeffler’s adoption of CoLab began with a pilot in 2022, gradually expanding to more users. The implementation included addressing security and access controls to ensure compliance. User feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and key performance indicators (KPIs) show increased usage and efficiency in design reviews. Schaeffler plans to expand CoLab's use globally and integrate it with their suppliers and customers.

Tactical Tips:

1. Start Small and Scale Gradually: Begin with a pilot project to test the tool's impact on a smaller scale before rolling it out across the organization. This approach allows for fine-tuning and building confidence among users.
2. Focus on Change Management: Effective change management is crucial for successful adoption. Regular training sessions, workshops, and clear communication help address resistance and ensure users are comfortable with the new tool.
3. Leverage Data for Continuous Improvement: Collect and analyze data on tool usage, project timelines, and user feedback to identify areas for improvement. This data-driven approach can help refine processes and demonstrate the value of digital tools.
4. Align with Strategic Goals: Ensure that digitalization initiatives align with the organization’s broader strategic goals, such as innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. This alignment helps secure leadership support and resources for implementation.
5. Build Cross-Functional Teams: Involve representatives from all relevant functions in the design review process. This collaborative approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, reducing the risk of overlooking critical issues.

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