Application of Lean Product and Process Development in FIRST Robotics Competition

Abstract

In FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, students have to design, build, and test a competition robot during a building season of six weeks. Lean Product and Process Development promises to shorten product development times and increase knowledge reuse. There is a knowledge gap for the application of Lean Product and Process Development in the context of student competitions. In this paper, we outline an approach to apply Lean Product and Process Development during the preparation and the building season. We hypothesize that the students can frontload knowledge in problem-based learning cycles before the game is published. Once the game is published, students can apply the front-loaded knowledge for the specific requirements of the game. The proposed approach includes an organizational structure, processes, and the use of Product Lifecycle Management software. We are going to test the approach with a larger FIRST Robotics Competition team in The Netherlands. The expected results of this case study are an increased insight in the effectiveness of Lean Product and Process Development and a measurable difference with the traditional design approach. Future research needs to be done on the results of this case study. Also, more similar case studies can be performed to obtain more general knowledge about the effectivity of the methodology.