Pilot Planning Checklist
The better a team plans for piloting, the more efficiently the process will run, and the better insights it will give to the team. Many teams rush headlong into the pilot phase and then realize that they have not ordered enough samples, planned the tests correctly, or recorded critical information. This list contains some of the information teams need to gather to be ensure they are ready for piloting.
Do you have clear learning objectives for the pilot? Just building the product to build it does not take full advantage of the learning opportunities.
What version of the product is going to be built? The design is likely to continue to be updated throughout the pilot planning phase. At some point ahead of the pilot, the team needs to decide what version is going to be built to ensure all of the materials are ordered correctly.
What materials will be used for the pilot? The team needs to make sure that materials are ordered in time for the pilot.
Are you using expert assemblers who can finesse the assembly or general workers with limited training?
What fixtures, jigs, and equipment are going to be used? Ultimately, the production line will need custom fixtures and jigs to support production.
How will the product be tested and evaluated?
What data is going to be collected during the process? The team needs to plan what data will be systematically collected during the build process and how it will be collected.