Cutting through the fog ☁️✂️☁️

We were faced with an interesting situation recently.

A long time client had an issue in the field, completely unrelated to anything we’d collaborated on.

He knew something was wrong - parts didn’t fit.

But we didn’t quite know why.

We did know that the consequences were high.

If we couldn’t get this fixed, it would become very expensive, very quickly.

We gathered what little information we could.

And modeled a couple plausible scenarios.

One seemed to fit the evidence the best.

Fortunately, this was also the simplest fix.

But how could we be sure we had made the right call?

Sometimes you just have to hop on a plane.

Cut through the fog.

And start replacing questions with answers.

-Brian Schoolcraft

Let your tools be tools 🔧

Having the right tools, and knowing how to use them is critical to product development.

Mechanical CAD

Simulation and Analysis Packages

Version Control Systems

Etc., etc.

But you know what’s more critical?

Actually developing the product you want.

As an engineer, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being a “technician”.

You’re very good at using your tools.

You’re very good at producing outputs.

But you’re not looking at the big picture.

Often, the best thing for your business is to let the tools be a bit messy.

Just enough to produce the business goals you need.

No one ever got rich from a perfectly drawn blueprint.

Or a beautifully documented code base.

Let the tool be tools, and let your business be the objective!

-Brian Schoolcraft

The power of paper ✏️📜📐

Sometimes you need a parametric 3D model to get your point across.

But sometimes you don’t.

In our digital world, it’s easy to think we have to start the design process on a screen.

But often, the first few hours of concept work will be much more efficient on a blank sheet of paper.

How are your sketching skills?

-Brian Schoolcraft