Case Studies
Strategy, Tactics, Project Leadership and Team Development in New Product Development Project
A Michigan located, Tier 1 Automotive Supplier of Clutch Controls had received a “go-ahead” from a customer to develop two new systems for their SUV’s. This customer had a time-line which required production representative functional assemblies in 10 months from project start. Similar projects had taken this company 18 – 24 months to complete, and the “prevailing wisdom”, was that 10 months to complete the project was not possible. Michael Schwartz, President of Positive Concepts, Inc developed the Strategy and the Tactics, along with use of his Project Management knowledge, Leadership principles, and Team Building skills to successfully bring this project to completion in the allotted timeframe and budget.
Team Leadership in a Problem Solving/Product Improvement Project
While with a major defense contractor, supplying Guidance Systems to the United States Navy, Michael L Schwartz, of Positive Concepts, Inc., was assigned a project to improve a key component which was experiencing problems in its operation. Michael formed and developed a Cross-Functional team consisting of Subject Matter Experts, from various Engineering and Scientific specialties. In only a few months, Michael led his team to develop solutions to a problem that had been unsuccessfully attacked for several years prior to his efforts.
Team Leadership in a Cost Reduction Effort
While working at a major manufacturer of wheeled vehicles for the United States Army, Michael L Schwartz, of Positive Concepts, Inc was asked to lead a Value Analysis/Value Engineering effort to reduce product cost in a rebid of a military vehicle contract. Michael led an eight member team in a Matrix Organizational structure. Within a three month time frame, over $9 million in cost savings were implemented. This was the most successful effort of its kind at, this company, up to that time.
Strategy, Tactics, and Team Leadership in a Cost Reduction Effort
At a division of a Michigan based manufacturer of construction equipment, a Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) effort was initiated within the Product Engineering Department to reduce costs by $1 Million. To implement this effort, six teams were formed within the department. Michael L Schwartz, of Positive Concepts, Inc was chosen to lead one of these teams. Each of the 12 member teams contained a cross representation of all the job functions and position levels within the Product Engineering Department. The teams each operated in a Matrix Organizational structure. Michael developed a Strategy and implemented the Tactics, along with utilization of his organization and leadership skills to lead this group to exceed the total cost reduction expected from all six teams. Additionally, Michael’s team generates cost reductions in excess of the other five teams combined. Michael received an award for “Outstanding Achievement” for his efforts on this project
Team Development and Relationship Building
During his tenure, within the Product Engineering Department, at a Michigan based supplier of systems for automotive manual transmissions, Michael L Schwartz, of Positive Concepts, Inc increased account size from $2.6 million to $7.5 million and 110,000 to 250,000 units. This was done by his relationship building methods and skills, and his techniques for determining, and meeting, customer needs and wants.
Building Customer Relations
Michael L Schwartz has been active in several professional societies. In two of these, he took the task of increasing member attendance at regularly scheduled meetings. By using his techniques for understanding customer needs and wants, Michael was able to greatly increase membership at these events. In one case, member attendance increased, in Michael’s first year in this effort, from five or six attendees to a typical 20 to 30 attendees.
Links
Academy of Management (AoM)
www.aomonline.org/
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
www.asme.org
American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Metro Detroit Section (ASMEDetroit)
www.asmedetroit.com/
Appreciative Inquiry Commons
www.appreciativeinquiry.case.edu
Appreciative Inquiry Consulting (AIC)
www.aiconsulting.org/
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
www.in.gov/pla
Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA)
http://michbusiness.org/
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
www.ncees.org
Project Management Institute (PMI)
www.pmi.org
Project Management Institute – Great Lakes Chapter (PMI-GLC)
www.pmiglc.org
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
www.sae.org
Society of Automotive Engineers – Detroit Section (SAE Detroit)
www.sae-detroit.org
Troy Chamber of Commerce
www.troychamber.com
