Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a thriving medical device company that crafted Class III implanted stimulators. Their creations helped people live better lives, and their company prospered. But one day, the rulers of the company decided to embark on a great journey to a new land—a land filled with promise and opportunity, where their company and all its loyal employees would flourish.
Building their new kingdom, however, was no small feat. This land required a brand-new manufacturing facility, a fortress of precision where quality and compliance would reign supreme. The rulers gathered their best engineers and wisest managers, confident they had everything needed to make the transition seamless.
But as the story goes, even the wisest can miss what lies in plain sight.
Enter the wise project manager
Sensing the challenges ahead, the rulers summoned a wise project manager. Her name was Mary, and she was no ordinary project manager. Mary had a keen eye for detail and a mind sharp enough to cut through even the most tangled of challenges.
Mary traveled to the new land to ensure the company’s transition would be as smooth as the silkiest of surgical threads. From the moment she arrived, she noticed things the rulers’ trusted advisors had not.
In the bustling halls of the new facility, Mary discovered work-in-process materials lying uncovered overnight in the cleanroom. While others focused on more immediate priorities, Mary recognized that such risks could jeopardize the kingdom’s precious devices.
Her sharp eyes also caught sight of a magical machine meant to coat the devices with precious materials. But alas, the machine had a tiny leak—a flaw so subtle it had gone unnoticed for years.
A quest for hidden truths
Realizing the kingdom’s future was at stake, Mary embarked on a great quest. The company had not called on Mary for that particular quest…
…but Mary was a true Waddell Group project manager.
And unlike some project managers, Mary didn’t just follow instructions. She immersed herself in the company’s operations, asked tough questions, and challenged the status quo to uncover opportunities for improvement.
She decided to review every process from beginning to end, sparing no corner of the facility where these magical class III devices were made. She explored how parts moved through the machines, how the documentation was written, and how the day-shift knights and night-shift squires performed their duties.
For two weeks, Mary toiled tirelessly. She examined the equipment, tested its intelligence (IQ), operational quality (OQ), and performance (PQ), and compared the practices of every worker. By the end of her journey, she uncovered four or five critical flaws that could have disrupted the company’s plans and put the entire kingdom in jeopardy.
A shift in perspective
As Mary dove deeper into the facility’s operations, she realized that the issues she uncovered weren’t isolated incidents—they were symptoms of a larger issue in the kingdom. She knew that solving immediate problems was only part of the solution. To truly ensure long-term success, the company needed to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement. Mary understood that change wasn’t just about fixing what was broken—it was about fostering an environment where quality and efficiency could thrive, even after her departure.
The magical gift
Mary decided to share her wisdom with the kingdom’s advisors and workers. Together, they repaired the magical machine, established new rules to keep materials protected, and ensured that all shifts followed the same best practices.
But Mary’s most magical gift was her advice for the future:
“Bring in fresh eyes to review your processes every so often. Even the wisest grow accustomed to routine, and only an outsider can spot what you no longer see.”
The rulers were awestruck by Mary’s insights. The prototypes produced in the new facility were flawless, and the kingdom avoided costly disruptions.
The moral of the story
And so, the rulers of the medical device company learned a valuable lesson: Sometimes, it takes a wise project manager to see what others cannot.
Thanks to Mary, the company thrived in its new land. Its devices brought joy and health to many, and the rulers and employees lived happily ever after.
As for Mary? She returned to her next quest, ready to help another kingdom unlock its potential.
The end.
If your kingdom faces a great challenge, call upon Waddell Group. For we do not just guide projects—we transform them.