by Geoff Neiley | Feb 14, 2026 | Lean Product Development
Years ago, Professor Durward Sobek II from Montana State University came to my company to teach set‑based design. Like many Lean product development concepts, the mechanics were interesting—but the most powerful takeaway was a single sentence: “Schedule is King.” At...
by Geoff Neiley | May 31, 2025 | Lean Product Development
I recently returned from attending the Lean Product and Process Development Exchange (LPPDE) conference in Stockholm, Sweden. It was an excellent event with significant value for all attendees. I would like to reflect on three key takeaways from this event. For some,...
by Geoff Neiley | Aug 7, 2024 | Lean Product Development
A story of transitioning from a slow, dilapidated, development environment to a lean innovation engine. I joined the company as a manager in the mechanical engineering department in 2011. We had a waterfall product development system. I recall one project that had...
by Geoff Neiley | Jun 21, 2022 | Lean Product Development
A few years ago, at LPPDE NA, I sat at a discussion table with Jim Morgan. The subject at this table was the Chief Engineering role in an organization. He shared that as a chief engineer at Ford he wanted to build “Towering Technical Competency” in the engineering...
by Geoff Neiley | Mar 7, 2022 | Lean Product Development
I heard it once said that “The value that engineering brings to an organization is the creation of useful knowledge.” I thought the value I brought was the new product I develop for the customer!? But where do those products come from? How do we make decisions about...
