What Is a Multi-Generation Project Plan?
– A vehicle to help focus the design team’s energies on a manageable project that can be completed relatively quickly.
– Since the future has been considered, the team will not make decisions that are incompatible with future generations.
– As the team’s work progresses, new ideas can be added to future generations of the process instead of increasing the development time for the first generation process.
– MGPP helps manage “scope creep.”
– The organization can be working on new technologies that are needed for future generations while the first generation process is being implemented and benefits realized.
The MGPP is usually not fully developed in the Lean Six Sigma Define phase step:
– In Define you should describe all the elements for the first generation product/service as fully as possible and fill in as much information as you have for future generations.
– You will add information to the MGPP throughout the DFSS process.
– At the end of the first generation, you will be able to describe the second and third generation products and services in much greater detail because of what you have learned from your research and testing of the first generation product.
The Multi-Generation Project Plan Will Help:
– Initially establish a reasonable project scope – one that drives values with a reasonable completion date
– Capture good ideas that are surfaced during the project
– Proactively identify project replication opportunities for other parts of the business
– Establish the “big picture” – How does this project fit into the overall improvement scheme for the organization
– E.g., the objective is to reduce billing errors for all of our customers. The first generation will address problems with our top 20% customers.
– E.g., this project will streamline the process and reduce the number of errors. The next phase will be to implement an automated information system.
– Communicate with stakeholders – “We’re focusing on this part of the process with this project, but recommend a follow-on project to address other parts of the process”.
MGPP Steps:
1. Start with the vision. Describe the vision for the new product/service 3 years from now. Then back up and describe product/service stages that lead up to the longer-term vision.
2. Describe the concept and technologies/platforms for Generation 1 in as much detail as possible.
3. Fill in as much information for Generation 2 and 3 concepts, platforms and technologies as you can. You will be adding more information about these elements as you learn more during Generation 1 development