Agile engineering makes the process more transparent for the customer

In the electronics world, the agile working method is also making its appearance. For example, GBO, a company that designs housings for electronics, uses the agile methodology to take the customer step by step through the design process.

By: Dimitri Reijerman

In the run-up to the E&A fair, we spoke with Bas Berkhout, director of new business development at GBO, about the pros and cons of agile engineering. Berkhout: “Agile engineering is actually a way of working in which we accelerate the engineering process and make it more transparent for the customer. We make important design decisions manageable for the customer by creating a lot of models.”

To realize this way of working, 3D printers are necessary, says Berkhout: “Yes, 3D printing plays an important role in that. If you have to do it with conventional things, it takes too long. And we work in different resolutions. Such as FDM printers with which we can quickly make simple models, but also printers with which we can produce very fine-meshed models.”

Develop more efficiently

He elaborates on the customer benefits: “We use them primarily to speed up a process. The customer can see: where is the solution heading? We know from experience that a design only comes to life and works when you can show something, when he has something in his hands and says: “oh now I understand what you mean…”.”

According to Berkhout, who on will speak on Wednesday morning, May 15, agile engineering ultimately ensures that the entire development process for companies like GBO becomes more efficient, while the deliverables become transparent for the customer. “That prevents countless iterations,” says Berkhout.

Agile is mainly popular in the ICT world, but it is also becoming commonplace in the electronics sector, the GBO director believes: “We have been working very actively with the agile working method for about three years now. The similarity with ICT is that you work very quickly towards a partial result that does not necessarily have to be the end result. The difference is that it can sometimes take a little longer for us, especially because of the selection process. For example, we have to choose from different materials. With programming, you write in a specific programming language, we have to choose between plastic or aluminum, and also select the right production technology. With mechatronic issues, it often becomes even more complex.”

More customer contact

Berkhout states that the transition to agile engineering does require an adjustment of the personnel in a number of areas: “It is not about the capacity on the floor, but about how you set up a project. You have to make people aware that they are seeking contact with the customer more often. Because engineers are naturally inclined to continue tinkering with a design behind a computer for a long time. As an engineer, you have to dare to let things go a little earlier.”

Companies that still work traditionally on electronic housings will lose out in the long term, according to Berkhout: “I think that all parties that want to distinguish themselves will work in a similar agile way. Companies that do it the traditional way will not survive in the end. They remain stuck in their current work culture for too long.”

Berkhout is still working on his presentation towards his lecture, but he promises to present a number of concrete cases in which the outlined advantages of agile working will come to the fore. Would you like to attend this lecture? Register for free for Electronics & Applications.