Traditional process and project management optimisation can often only achieve incremental improvements. Sometimes a more radical step is required in order to improve faster. Our client wanted to find out whether agile methods could also be used successfully in its hardware development and whether significant progress in development performance could be achieved with Scrum.
Agility as a driver for development success
Scrum for more efficient product development
at a leading pump manufacturer
The company
Our customer is a leading supplier of pumps, valves and related services. In the Pumps business unit, around 200 product managers and developers at three locations develop standard products and customised solutions.
The challenge
The introduction of Scrum in an initial product development project with hardware, electronics and firmware development was intended to demonstrate an improvement in quality, adherence to deadlines and efficiency through agile methods.
The procedure
The project was accompanied by a highly experienced consultant in the role of an agile coach for 9 months and 50 consulting days. Firstly, a suitable pilot project was selected together. The criteria for selecting an ideal pilot project are
- Strong support from stakeholders
- Voluntary nature of the project team
- Early project phase
- Medium complexity
- Sufficient duration
- Interdisciplinary team with up to 9 developers
- Product owner with decision-making authority and capability
- High workload of the individual project team members
- one location
An agile project always begins top-down with the preparation of management up to the CTO for the impending cultural change. Before the start of the first project, make sure you obtain commitment from the stakeholders for the change in behaviour required when introducing agile methods.
The pilot project was set up and supported jointly. An internal Scrum Master was trained and qualified in the initial phase:
- Top Management und Stakeholder Training
- Scrum Pilotteam Training
- Definition der Produktvision
- Structure of the product backlog
- Planning the first sprint
- Moderation of the daily scrums
- Product Backlog Refinement
- Preparation and moderation of the first review
- Moderation of the first retrospective
- Support for further sprints
Initial successes became apparent very quickly and so the company decided to launch a second major development project for a new pump family in an agile manner as well. 6 months later, the third project is now starting as a cross-location international collaboration.
Our customers
Your satisfaction
