# S1E29 Kaizen, Communication, & the Design Squiggle | Rob Donley

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-08-14
- Length: 52m
- Episode: 29
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/kaizen-communication-design-squiggle/

## Summary

Rob Donley, a project manager at Terumo and founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, discusses his journey from building RC cars and model rockets to leading medical device engineering teams. He explains how he applied Kaizen methodologies to reduce sales order response times from two weeks to 48 hours and details a root cause investigation into leaking anesthesia tube sets caused by plastic cracking in cold climates. Donley also shares insights on the 'design squiggle,' emphasizing the importance of concept convergence before detailed design, and discusses the critical role of communication and supply chain unpredictability in manufacturing.

## Chapters

- [0:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=14) Introduction: Rob Donley and Pipeline Design & Engineering
- [0:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=51) Rob Donley's Early Engineering Journey: Legos, RC Cars, and Model Rockets
- [7:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=428) The Colorado School of Mines: Practical Education and Senior Design Projects
- [14:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=877) Applying Kaizen to Sales Processes and Reducing Response Times
- [21:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=1284) Mentoring Engineers: The Importance of Communication and the 'Why, What, How' Framework
- [24:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=1466) Case Study: Root Cause Analysis of Leaking Anesthesia Tube Sets in Arctic Regions
- [31:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=1898) Cost of Goods Sold: Automating Wire Harnesses and Design for Serviceability
- [38:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=2325) The Genetic Diagnostics Machine: From Garage Startup to Pharmaceutical Market
- [44:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=2684) Supply Chain Unpredictability and the Reality of Post-Launch Manufacturing
- [46:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley#t=2803) The Design Squiggle: Concept Convergence and Learning to Say No

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Terumo (company)
- Colorado School of Mines (other)
- Coke Freestyle (product)
- KSI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [053 - "Duct Tape and Bubble Gum" with Chris Tsai](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-10-05-053-duct-tape-and-bubble-gum-with-chris-tsai) (Let's Combinate)
- [How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Foundation First: Products, Systems, Process & People w/ Bill Kaewert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [113: I Wasn’t Expecting Therapy Today](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-06-27-113-i-wasnt-expecting-therapy-today) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [57: Mashed in the Gears](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-02-19-57-mashed-in-the-gears) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-08-14-s1e29-kaizen-communication-the-design-squiggle-rob-donley. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.