Scrum

Definition: Scrum is an iterative and incremental methodology for software projects and product- or application-development. It is also one of the variants of agile software development methodologies.

How Scrum Can Change Manufacturing

How Agile, Lean, XP and Scrum can fit manufacturing, and in fact are destined to revolutionize it! As OSE is in the manufacturing business, this is sure to be inspiring. WikiSpeed iterated to a high-performance car; OSE is iterating machines toward durability, simplicity, and sustainability. OSE can obviously learn a lot from WikiSpeed.

In this video, Joe Justice, of WikiSpeed, explains the process his all-volunteer design team used to exceed expectations in their fuel-efficient car design.

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In What Keys Ways is OSE different than WikiSpeed?

From a Scrum standpoint, OSE is significantly different than WikiSpeed.

Ultimate goals:

• OSE seeks to develop 50 machines, whereas WikiSpeed was focused on one. One consequence of this is that GVCS development will likely be more physically distributed, having more hands-on design efforts in more geographical locations simultaneously.
• OSE is committed to open source to the extent that only when OSE has provided complete documentation and, in fact, training, in manufacture will it have achieved its goal. WikiSpeed only needed to train and share documentation with people on the design teams.
• OSE's big deadlines and our measures of success are self-imposed. WikiSpeed was racing to compete with internationally recognized competitors in an externally organized contest, with a large reward involved.

What is Scrum?

Joe Justice, who is a professional Scrum/Agile coach in his day job, drew attention to many of the key aspects of Scrum in the video above. Here are some of the features he mentioned:

• Morale is a velocity multiplier. This is the most critical Scrum rule. Scrum is based on a modern understanding from cognitive psychology of motivation and job satisfaction.
• Repeated iterations each producing a result which delivers greater value to the user immediately
• Before design starts, create tests that will be used to see if components meet the necessary standards of value. In Scrum, this is referred to as a "definition of done."
• Visualize workflow. In Scrum jargon, this refers to "visual radiators."
• Have a process coach, referred to in Scrum as a "Scrum master"
• Relentlessly gain efficiencies in your process, referred to in Scrum as identifying and removing "impediments."
• Identify the value stream map of your company, referred to in Scrum as the "business value" you are seeking.

Other techniques WikiSpeed used are not from Scrum, but from associated Agile, XP or Lean processes:

• Modular design allowing distributed teams to change components without requiring an overall design change
• Lean -- cut costs in tooling and complexity wherever possible
• XP -- work in pairs at all times

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. . The video above is a great introduction to Scrum!

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This video explains a good way to evaluate and improve "stories," which are the list of features that make up the Product Backlog.

OSE GVCS Scrum

First, we list the projects, in order of priority. See GVCS graphic on the right. Changes are: remove pyrolysis oil and Babington burner with biomass Pelletizer for fueling modern Steam Engines. The burner is already present in the form of the Gasifier Icon

40 GVCS technologies.

1. CEB press - Full Product Release achieved.
2. LifeTrac - on Prototype II
3. Soil Pulverizer -