Rapid Prototyping
Idea and purpose
The use of prototypes in daily work routines aims at promoting a creative, playful acquisition of knowledge and supporting a low-threshold use and integration of new processes and technologies. To demonstrate alternative solutions, a test arena is created within the organization. This is achieved through early prototypical use and an iterative approach, which accompanies the transfer into a fully functioning system.
Requirements
The attempt to redesign existing structures using prototypes requires resources. In particular, the corresponding material is needed, but time resources for dealing with the prototype must also be scheduled as well. At the same time, employees must be willing to participate in such experiments. Clear rules for demonstration and testing purposes provide the framework for the use of the process or technology.
Participants
This approach involves internal members of the organization. These actors can be supported selectively by external experts, who contribute with specific knowledge within certain iterations.
Temporal and spatial structure
The use and examination of the prototypical process or technology takes place in everyday processes. Minor changes and adaptations occur when needed and support the further development of the tested prototype.
Procedure
In order to use prototypes in everyday life, it is first necessary to provide materials, technologies and information. Then rules for the test use in everyday life have to be defined. In addition, incentive structures can be created which promote the use of prototypes in everyday life.
Use case
In an industrial company, employees walk long distances when transporting working materials between the warehouse and the respective production site. The idea is to use a transport robot and build a specific structure for transporting the parts. This project is put into practice and the robot is optimized and adapted in various iteration loops during daily production. In the course of time, the transport robot starts to take over first transports. In revisions, the used paths and the structure of the robot is adapted to actual needs.
Literature
Stichwort: Rapid Prototyping