Hardware Podcasts

269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray

Embedded.fm · 6 Dec 2018 · 1h 05m · Episode 269

What this episode covers

Alan Cohen, author of 'Prototype to Product: A Practical Guide for Getting to Market' and a systems engineer at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the 'eleven deadly sins' of product development. He argues that detailed planning and 'surprise management' are critical to avoiding costly failures, contrasting agile iteration with structured waterfall processes. Cohen also advocates for model-based systems engineering using tools like Enterprise Architect to reduce software defects and emphasizes the importance of building strong, psychologically aware teams.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Massachusetts General Hospital, O'Reilly
Products
Prototype to Product: A Practical Guide for Getting to Market, The Mythical Man-Month
Tools
Enterprise Architect

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Builder Circle · 1h 11m

    S2 E2: Demystifying Medical Device and System Development with Alan Cohen

    Alan Cohen, author of 'Prototype to Product' and a systems engineering manager specializing in radiation therapy devices, explains the complexities of medical device development to host Sera Evcimen. Cohen emphasizes that successful startups often emerge from collaborations between engineers and clinicians, and he details the critical importance of understanding reimbursement models, specifically CPT codes, before building a product. He advocates for using Fault Tree Analysis over FMEA for complex systems to manage risk efficiently and advises founders to balance lean documentation with rigorous process adherence to satisfy FDA requirements without over-engineering.

    Medical & health devicesValidation & product-market fit
    10 chapters

  • IDology · 41m

    IDology #11 - Most common mistakes in product development

    Rafał Piłat, co-founder of the industrial design studio Mindsailors, discusses common mistakes companies make during product development, emphasizing that 'hardware is hard' and requires realistic planning. He highlights errors such as skipping market research, over-engineering the first version (the 'curse of 2.0'), and underestimating the time and budget needed for prototyping and certification. Piłat also warns against assuming visual concepts are production-ready and stresses the importance of having a single decision-maker to avoid communication breakdowns.

    Validation & product-market fitPricing, margins & unit economics
    6 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 36m

    Project Management for Product Development of Medical Devices

    Devon Campbell, founder of Prodct, and Christie Johnson, founder of Kasota Engineering, discuss project management strategies for medical device development, arguing against rigid waterfall methodologies and complex Gantt charts. They advocate for a cyclical, agile-inspired approach that trusts engineering teams, uses coarse-grained high-level planning, and prioritizes early prototyping and testing to manage risk. The conversation highlights the importance of clear communication, information flow (via Design Structure Matrix), and integrating contract manufacturing partners early in the process to avoid bottlenecks and ensure successful product delivery.

    Validation & product-market fitDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    6 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 53m

    S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems

    Ryan Schoonmaker, founder of Tight Line Solutions and former Director of Mechanical Engineering at Beta Bionics, Dexcom, and BD, explains how to bring structure to chaotic product development. He emphasizes that successful execution requires clear requirements, robust assembly specifications, and early decisions on critical elements like component colors to avoid regulatory delays. Schoonmaker draws on his experience with the Dexcom G6 and G7 to illustrate how narrowing down system failures and managing technical debt differently at startups versus large enterprises leads to predictable outcomes.

    Mechanical engineeringScaling production
    8 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 38m

    Waterfall vs. Agile: Battle of the Product Development Methodologies

    Jon Speer, host of the Global Medical Device Podcast, interviews Devon Campbell, founder and CEO of Prodct, to debunk myths surrounding waterfall and agile methodologies in medical device development. They argue that the FDA's Design Control Guidance is often misinterpreted as mandating a rigid waterfall process, when it merely illustrates one possible approach. Campbell and Speer emphasize that successful product development relies on defined processes, traceability, and hybrid models rather than adherence to a specific named methodology. They advocate for 'documenting early and revising often' to manage the high costs of late-stage changes in electromechanical hardware.

    Validation & product-market fitDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.