Design Realization/Detailed Design - Medical Device Design: Innovation from Concept to Market - page 153

selection process to pick the best one and then the analysis starts (just as the overall project
did). Do not hack !
8.2.1 Macro Project Plan
While we would have a project plan for the whole project it is worth revisiting this to ensure
that this stage works smoothly. We may have allocated 6 months to this phase; we need to
make this work so we produce an overall macroscale project plan in which we estimate the
timescales for all of the subprojects. It cannot be stressed enough that most detailed designs
live and die based on whether the project has been managed properly or not.
8.2.2 Assemble Design Team
Hopefully we will have already assembled a team at the start of the project. However, if this is
not the case, we really do need one now. One designer cannot be master of all. We will need
support from analytical engineers, from packaging designers, from materials experts, from a
whole range of disciplines. Now is the time, if you have not already done so, to select those
team members. We shall look at this process in more detail later.
8.2.3 Micro Plan
Each subproject will have its own timescale. It is important that you lock this down at the
earliest opportunity or you will find your overall project dragging. This is not only costly for
the company, but it could cost you your job.
8.2.4 Delivery of Subprojects
By now you will have realized that the essence here is the development of a good PDS.
You will have established what the subproject needs to do and what it needs to meet. Hence
delivery also means acceptance.
All of the planning and hard work you put in earlier should now come to fruition. If you have
carried out your design planning correctly the subproject undertaken by this individual should
work smoothly and the transition from “brain to paper” should be seamless - and rapid.
8.2.5 Delivery of Overall Design
Now the real sweat starts to be produced. Does the design go together as expected? If you
have followed all of the tools I have demonstrated earlier, and use the tools in this chapter, we
should have success, first time - every time.
8.2.6 How?
This is the real question. How do we do this? How does it happen? Hopefully the next few
sections will help you to start a process. There are certain things you have to do and certain