The success of any project hinges on its ability to meet specific requirements and objectives.
In the case of the liftkit project we worked on with our client from the linear motion industry for FANUC collaborative robots, three key business requirements took center stage:
- Keep track of the budget and be cost-effective
- Minimize time to market – have a stable MVP as soon as possible
- Have high quality and control over quality
In this blog, we'll explore how these requirements were met and how they played a pivotal role in the project's success.
Keeping Track of the Budget and Being Cost-Effective
One of the foremost requirements of the project was cost-effectiveness. As in many projects, financial considerations play a crucial role in determining the viability and ultimate success of the endeavor.
The liftkit, with its utilization of the Universal Integration Platform, was designed with cost-effectiveness in mind.
By requiring only standard features like TCP/IP communication, the integration process was simplified, reducing the need for costly, custom hardware. This simplicity in integration not only saved on costs but also allowed the project to maintain better control over the budget.
Furthermore, both Enlight Engineering and our client's long-standing presence in the market offered stability and reliability, allowing the project to be executed faster. Clear definition of requirements was also a factor in having a stable MVP as soon as possible. An efficient process was established to bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions, allowing customers to start using the product sooner, thus potentially saving costs on alternative solutions or labor-intensive processes.
Minimizing Time to Market
Getting a product to market quickly can make a significant difference in its success. The liftkit project successfully minimized time to market by adopting several strategies.
The use of the Universal Integration Platform, designed to be adaptable to different robot systems, simplified integration and accelerated the process. This allowed the project to reach the market faster. By focusing on common interfaces and communication protocols, the integration process was made more efficient, reducing the time required for development.
Again, the project's decision to prioritize an MVP early in the process contributed to a fast time-to-market. This decision allowed customers to access and use the product sooner, meeting their needs and expectations more quickly.
Maintaining High Quality and Control Over Quality
Quality control was another non-negotiable requirement for the liftkit project.
First, the use of the KAREL programming language allowed for precise control and efficient management of various aspects of the robotic system.
The global conditional handlers provided a mechanism to continuously monitor critical data points within the system. This not only enhanced the project's efficiency but also ensured that quality standards were met during operation.
Furthermore, the Universal Integration Platform liftkit uses the TCP/IP protocol, which enables reliable, error-free data transfer. This commitment to seamless communication is indicative of the project's dedication to quality control.
In conclusion, this project successfully met its key requirements of cost-effectiveness, swift time-to-market, and a commitment to high quality. Through strategic decisions, such as the use of a generic platform, early MVP delivery, and a focus on precise control through programming languages, the project demonstrated its ability to fulfill these requirements, ultimately leading to its success in the field of robotics and automation.
