Expert insights on co-creation
Innokas expert Kimmo Frondelius, with over 30 years of experience in the technology industry, was recently heard at Taipuva Polarion Days 2024 in Stockholm, giving a presentation about this very topic. He and other Innokas’ experts have a wealth of experience in different co-creation projects, including but not limited to regulatory affairs, quality management, risk management, design and development, verification and validation, clinical affairs and manufacturing. Here are four examples of the best practices in collaborative product development that we follow in our projects, thus proven in the real world!
The most important practices to follow in collaborative product development project
Firstly, agree on standard practices for the project. Establishing a shared understanding of practices such as requirements hierarchy and design control activities sets a solid foundation for any collaborative product development project. When all parties are aligned on these fundamental aspects, it improves decision-making processes and ensures everyone is working towards the same goals at all times.
Secondly, streamline the dataflow. Effective co-creation requires seamless data exchange between companies involved in the project. Agreeing on the flow of data, such as importing user needs into a central platform like the ALM tool Polarion and collaboratively creating technical requirements enhances efficiency and minimizes misunderstandings.
Thirdly, don’t forget to utilize shared tools! Transparency and traceability are paramount in shared development projects. By employing a common tool that integrates all aspects of the development process – from changes and comments to reviews and approvals – teams can maintain visibility into project progress and facilitate better communication.
And finally, agree on templates and mechanisms. Consistency is key in ensuring quality outcomes; Agreeing on the use of templates, defining attributes, and establishing operating mechanisms helps streamline processes and reduces the likelihood of errors. Additionally, clearly defining roles and responsibilities for document owners, reviewers, and approvers enhances accountability and fosters effective collaboration between all the parties.
Driving results through effective collaboration
These are a few of the practices us Innokas’ experts utilize to maximize the efficiency in a shared project. Shared practices foster a collaborative environment where the parties involved can effectively contribute to the regulated design and development process together. Co-creation not only enhances the quality of the final product, reduces time-to-market, and improves audit readiness but also promotes innovation and furthers stronger relationships between collaborating parties. Technology companies today drive progress and maintain their competitive edge by uniting innovative minds via collaborative product development projects. Keep it simple, agile, and up to date!
Blog written by Teija Tulinen, also available at Innokas website.