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Lack of integration testing.
Not paying attention to how a product correctly interfaces with external systems and environments, the user or accessories will certainly limit its success.

What to do about it!
Believe it or not, this is a very common problem. It can be solved during product definition stage by researching and then declaring exactly with what the product must interface. Proper design and testing can then be planned to ensure all expected interfacing is correct. Some areas of integration to be tested are:
  • Ancillary and peripheral products.
  • External, connected systems (wireless, wired).
  • The user's and equipment's environments (appropriate and disruptive interference).

Untrained team members and poor timing.
These two deficiencies go hand-in-hand and can blow apart a schedule and budget.

What to do about it!
Poor timing can usually be attributed to naive or inattentive actions of team members, such as the improper phasing of critical-path activities or belated involvement of suppliers for custom components. For example, starting the fabrication of a tool for plastic parts at the same time as the electronic components are ordered (a buyer being uninformed of tooling lead times) can set a schedule back weeks, if not months. In such cases, suppliers of custom components need to be involved at the design stage.

Even skilled people may need training for some activities. If so, train them… it will be less expensive in the long run and such investment is generally good for any company.

 
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©2003, Richard M. (Dick) Haney
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