“Lean Design Partnership” – Definition
To be successful a “Lean Design Partnership” must create more value with less work and ultimately must benefit the end customer of the primary partner.
A Lean Design Partnership starts when a manufacturer or engineering company, the primary partner with the end customer, includes their partners, other engineering or design companies that will contribute to the manufacturer’s engineering process, in the quotation stage of new work. This proactive arrangement expands the manufacturers’ capabilities and sales potential and it gives the manufacturer the confidence that it can deliver on its promises.
The manufacturer can decide whether or not to disclose their Lean Design Partnership to their customer. More importantly, the manufacturer should promote their improved ability to deliver on time, on spec and on budget. The manufacturer can benefit from an expanded market potential and a better opportunity of closing sales. They can do this without new capital investments, without new staff commitments and without extra overhead.
When the manufacturer is awarded the new contract, the partnership physically engages and all partners begin work to meet the needs of the end customer. Time, energy and resources are saved as the manufacturer already has its solution in place. Many large companies may already have a lean design partnership. For example, they may have an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) team agreement with multiple partners that is presented to their client as a turn-key solution.
A lean design partnership is well suited for small to medium sized businesses as they traditionally do not form this type of partnership early in the sales cycle and it may be a better way for them to compete in today’s market.
