Unexpected Product Launch Delays

Client Category: Healthcare

Situation Overview:

New product launches at Medical Device Designer/Manufacturer are being delayed approximately 2 weeks per product to design and print "Instructions for Use." The unanticipated delays are hurting relations with customers and impacting sales.

Pivotal Resources' Role & Solutions:

Support Provided: Lean project consulting
Analysis: Multiple reviews and rework caused by layered approval process and other non-value-adding steps.
Solution: Consolidated approval process to a single meeting for each product, and outsourced foreign language translation to a single vendor.

Results/Successes:

Instructions for use are off the critical path for all new products fielded since project completion. Reported impact in first year of $1.2 million (recovered sales and lower costs).