Workshop Readiness Assessment
To determine whether a product is ready to be built in a successful workshop, here are some considerations?
- Are complete build instructions available?
- Is the build staged in distinct phases?
- Is build time and quality control data available for prior builds?
- What is the current build time?
- How many units have been built?
- How many hours of functional track record do the builds already have?
- What is the feedback on the effectiveness of the build?
- How many similar workshops have been run?
- Were design changes or part substitutions made since the last time?
- If so, what are the improvements since the last time?
- What bugs exist in the design?
- What are the challenges during the build?
- What is the build preparation time for sourcing materials and preparing workshop documentation?
- What is the material cost per unit?
- What is the value of a comparable product purchased off the shelf?
- Prior to the workshop, how much time is required for (1) finding sources of materials; (2) purchasing; (3) receiving; (4) inventorying; (4b) packaging or grouping materials; (5) precutting, pre-processing materials; (6) doing or outsourcing any other fabrication; (7) sourcing, preparing, and maintaining tools; (8) securing and setting up the production space; (9) laying out materials and tools for the build; (10) any other preparation for the actual build.
- What skill level is assumed of the participants?
- Is a quality control checklist available?
- How many instructors are required to run the event?
- Are instructor training materials available?
- Is an instructor training program in place or planned for the future?
- Are there any features of the product that are unique and not available from any other provider?
- How many instructors are capable of organizing and teaching the workshop?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the current design?
- Is the machine intended for long term use in production?
- What is the expected hads-off run time before any maintenance, service, or adjustment has to be made?
- What is the overall state of documentation for the product, outside of build instructions?
- Is a workshop curriculum published?
- What are the space requirements for a build workshop?
- What is the maximum number of people that can participate in a workshop? What is the total number of product units that can be built?
- What are the machine operating costs?
- What are the basic performance specs of the product? Power, size, weight, accuracy, speed, etc.
- How many builders are currently using their product?
- What are the skills required of instructors?
