{"id":11391,"date":"2024-05-30T14:43:54","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T14:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/?p=11391"},"modified":"2024-07-02T21:05:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T21:05:11","slug":"streamlining-workstreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/blog\/streamlining-workstreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Streamlining Workstreams to Enhance Organizational Efficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Workstreams help divide large-scale projects into more manageable components, simplifying planning, monitoring, and execution processes.\u00a0<\/p>

These streams act like swimlanes in a pool, guiding each swimmer\u2014or, in a business context, each part of an organization\u2014toward their end goals without overlap, ensuring that each segment progresses without infringing on another\u2019s space.<\/p>

This article explores the role of workstreams in organizational success and how they foster improved project management and operational efficiency.<\/p>

Central to this discussion is the integration of product lifecycle management (PLM) software, which acts as a definitive swimlane, orchestrating the flow of projects from inception to completion.\u00a0<\/p>

With a clear understanding of PLM\u2019s capabilities, we will use practical examples to explore its direct impact on enhancing organizational workstreams.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Understanding Product Lifecycle Management<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Product lifecycle management (PLM) is a strategic approach to managing a product\u2019s lifecycle from inception through engineering design and manufacture to service and disposal.<\/p>

PLM software integrates data, processes, business systems, and people in an extended enterprise, providing a product information backbone for companies and their extended supply chain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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PLM key functions<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Centralizing Product Data:<\/strong>\u00a0PLM systems store all information related to a product, allowing easy access and ensuring all stakeholders are on the same page.<\/p>

Streamlining Processes:<\/strong>\u00a0By automating workflows and reducing manual tasks, PLM helps eliminate inefficiencies and speeds up the product development process.<\/p>

Enhancing Collaboration:<\/strong>\u00a0PLM facilitates communication across departments and geographical boundaries, helping teams work together more effectively.<\/p>

Improving Quality Control:<\/strong>\u00a0With better traceability and visibility across the product development cycle, PLM helps identify and address quality issues early.<\/p>

Integrating PLM into workstreams ensures that every project component is aligned with overarching product strategies, enhancing overall effectiveness and efficiency. Let\u2019s examine how product lifecycle management facilitates the structuring of workstreams.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is a Workstream? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A workstream is a contiguous series of organized, integrated, closely related digital tasks that can be automated to scale processes. This process allows tasks to be completed independently and combined, accelerating the project\u2019s progress.\u00a0<\/p>

By breaking down large and complex projects into smaller, manageable components, workstreams simplify overall\u00a0project management<\/a>\u00a0and enhance planning, execution, and monitoring. Each operates with its own timelines, milestones, risks, and dedicated teams, all directed toward a common goal of efficient project delivery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Workstreams v Workflows<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While related to the project management process, workflows, and workstreams\u00a0serve distinct functions<\/a>\u00a0and shouldn\u2019t be confused with one another. A workflow is a specific sequence of tasks designed to achieve an organizational goal, effectively mapping out each step needed to complete a project.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In contrast, a workstream is the collective output from diverse workgroups focusing on varied objectives within the same project. This distinction is crucial as it highlights the\u00a0operational<\/em>\u00a0versus the\u00a0strategic<\/em>\u00a0elements of project management, with workflows providing the\u00a0\u201chow\u201d<\/em>\u00a0and workstreams focusing on the\u00a0\u201cwhat\u201d<\/em>\u00a0to meet broader project goals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What are the benefits of Workstreams? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The benefits of contiguous workstreams are numerous and varied. PLM software commonly manages workstreams in product manufacturers and is usually associated with engineering because CAD vendors initially created PLM to manage CAD design files in engineering.\u00a0<\/p>

Today, where products have a high percentage of sourced content from the supply chain, CAD file management for engineering is merely one benefit, but there are many more to consider.\u00a0Contiguous workstreams today extend beyond the manufacturer\u2019s engineering department into the supply chain. Let\u2019s look at the benefits of workstreams.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Efficiency benefits\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If a workstream is 100% efficient, it doesn\u2019t exist\u2014existing workstreams have some degree of inefficiency, such as gaps, manual touch, data translation\/augmentation, etc.<\/p>

Most manufacturers continuously improve and refine their\u00a0existing\u00a0<\/i>processes, often satisfied with fractions of a percentage improvement in efficiency (LEAN manufacturing), because they can measure saved time, increased profitability, and revenue.\u00a0<\/p>

The problem with chasing efficiency improvement of existing processes is that it traps the manufacturer into the same way of doing things, albeit more efficiently. Iconic companies such as Blackberry, Boeing, and Kodak are examples.<\/p>

It\u2019s important to step back, study existing workstreams, and consider alternate new workstreams that might obsolete multiple processes altogether, thus delivering far bigger efficiency gains overall.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Traceability benefits<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Digital workstreams offer traceability. Tracing a product\u2019s complete genealogy is essential in most industries, especially regulated industries like\u00a0aerospace<\/a>\u00a0and medical devices. As manufacturers increasingly rely on the supply chain for much of their product content, traceability is even more important than ever before.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The\u00a0Alaska Airlines 737 Max flight<\/a>\u00a0that left Portland on January 5th could have caused multiple fatalities when the door blew off. Fortunately, all passengers had their seat belts still fastened.<\/p>

The FAA investigation verified numerous points of failure in\u00a0Boeing\u2019s supply chain<\/a>\u00a0and internal procedures that caused the accident by using rigorous traceability procedures.<\/p>

Whether for commercial aviation safety, food processing, and distribution, spare parts authenticity, or circuit board manufacturing processes, digital traceability is imperative.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Velocity benefits<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Digital workstreams move product information at practically infinite velocity, providing no gaps or manual touch interrupting data flow. Product data does not get stuck waiting for someone to approve something or perform a task.<\/p>

It\u2019s always in motion, and as it moves, it becomes enriched with more information needed by the next department or milestone stage.\u00a0<\/p>

Velocity helps simultaneously make the same products faster and\/or more product variants with the same resources. Without sacrificing quality, velocity is the new standard in leading companies.<\/p>

AI will take this to a whole new level in the future by optimizing massive complexity to make better choices, thus increasing velocity even further.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Scalability benefits<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Scalability means being able to grow your business without impediments.<\/strong><\/p>

Hyperscaling, a common term for Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and NVIDIA, is used in technology and business to describe the ability of a system, organization, or infrastructure to scale rapidly and efficiently to handle increasing demands.<\/p>

Whether scalability or hyperscaling, digital workstreams allow a company to grow and meet current market demands continuously.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Repeatability benefits\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s not uncommon for manufacturers to\u00a0reinvent the wheel<\/i>\u00a0and make the same mistakes as last time.<\/p>

This often occurs because of organizational silos and lack of governance standards, leading to critical information about product decision-making\u00a0(the who, what, where, and why)<\/em>\u00a0isn\u2019t available or is too hard to find; it\u2019s not shared.<\/p>

Digital corporate governance workstreams that each product team, department location, or country uses ensure repeatability.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Globalization benefits\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Digital corporate governance workstreams, adopted globally, allow manufacturers to load balance. This means assigning manufacturing projects to locations based on criteria like capacity, skill set, proximity to customer\/market, and proximity to critical supply chain sources (perhaps cobalt from China for EV battery production).<\/p>

A follow-the-sun paradigm, which is a single, virtual, global organization, may be implemented. This lowers costs, saves time by removing bottlenecks, and allows optimal use of assets (digital, physical, and human).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Five Examples of Practical Workstreams<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Let\u2019s explore five practical examples of workstreams that can transform theoretical efficiency into tangible results. These examples demonstrate how integrating workstreams within a company\u2019s operational structure can foster enhanced coordination, focus, and productivity across various departments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Workstream 1 \u2013 Design Reuse\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Overview<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Most new designs use existing products as their base, with new products being 80-90% similar to existing ones, often refreshed with minor features or colors. Leveraging existing product records, including CAD files, process plans, and quality test procedures, avoids redundant work and maximizes efficiency.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Strategic Highlights:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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