READY-FIRE-AIM!

Don't Assume The First Solution To A Problem Or The First Product Design Is The Best Or Only One:

Tom Peters, in his book ‘In Search of Excellence’ observes that successful companies [and individuals] have a bias towards action, doing short experiments to feel out new technologies or markets and then quickly revising their plans and goals based on what they learn. They admit in advance they don't know all the answers and expect to be surprised. Similarly they avoid an emotional or ego fixation on their first plans or prototypes.

Tom Peters describes this process as: "Do it. Try it. Fix it." or, in other words, "Ready! [Or not]: Fire! Aim!”

Please Note: This rule is very context dependent and frequently misinterpreted in the literature, particularly by quality management experts who believe that a failure in a product prototype or the failure in a trial marketing plan is equivalent to poor quality.

It is clear from the Tom Peters observations and our own extensive experience of working with clients, who are continuously investing in developing new products for either existing or new markets, that they need all the help, they can get with the transformation of innovative ideas and concepts into workable cost effective manufacturing solutions.

The PCML ‘Design for Profit Experience’ has been developed to help organisations speed up the new product development process, whilst at the same time significantly reduce the risks associated with such a strategy.