On 29 August, the Qubit Bot robotics team had the opportunity to engage with Jessica Cole, Managing Director - PMO and Operations at SHI International Corp. Jessica brought valuable insights into process mapping, a methodical approach to creating efficient systems. Her lessons were especially pertinent for our team as we prepare for the upcoming FIRST FTC season, emphasizing the importance of planning, communication, and collaboration in achieving success.
About Jessica Cole
Jessica Cole is an experienced operations leader who specializes in building streamlined, efficient workflows through process mapping. Her work in the Advanced Solutions Group at SHI International involves managing large-scale projects, including multi-million-dollar cloud migrations, and ensuring that every step of the process is optimized for efficiency. Jessica’s expertise lies in translating complex tasks into visual representations that simplify understanding and highlight potential areas of improvement.
The Power of Process Mapping
Jessica introduced the team to the concept of process mapping, a visual representation of tasks and actions that lead to a specific outcome. This technique is valuable in many fields, including robotics, where teams face the challenge of managing multiple tasks simultaneously. By visually mapping out a process, teams can identify inefficiencies, improve communication, and streamline their workflow.
Jessica illustrated the importance of process mapping by sharing a real-world scenario involving a $1,000,000 cloud migration project. In this complex project, process mapping revealed redundancies and inefficiencies, enabling her team to save time and resources. The lesson: no matter the scale of the project, having a clear visual flow can make a significant difference in achieving success.
Applying Process Mapping to Robotics
Jessica highlighted that process mapping can guide the development of a robot from the initial design stages to final construction and testing. A well-structured process ensures that every team member understands their role and the sequence of tasks, preventing miscommunication and wasted effort.
In robotics, for example, building a robot’s arm before constructing its chassis would be an inefficient process. A process map can help the team organize the steps, ensuring that the correct order is followed, and everyone is aligned on the goal.
Moreover, Jessica emphasized that process mapping is an excellent tool for enhancing teamwork. By clearly outlining responsibilities and deadlines, the team can avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that every member contributes efficiently. This collaborative environment encourages open communication and allows ideas to be shared and refined.
Learnings and Applications for the Upcoming FTC Season
Understanding the Process
Process mapping simplifies complex tasks by breaking them down into manageable steps. For our upcoming FTC season, this will help us organize our build process more efficiently, from understanding the competition’s rules to the final testing phase of our robot.
Enhancing Communication
Clear communication is crucial to any team’s success. By using process maps, we can ensure that every team member understands their role and the sequence of tasks, leading to smoother collaboration and fewer misunderstandings.
Improving Teamwork
Process mapping fosters collaboration by providing a visual platform for all ideas. This approach allows everyone’s voice to be heard, promoting innovation and ensuring that the best ideas rise to the top.
Mentorship and Legacy
Just as our engineering notebooks document our progress, process maps can serve as valuable resources for mentoring future teams. By documenting our workflow and improvements, we can pass on our knowledge to rookie teams, helping them learn from our experiences.
Jessica also encouraged us to use simple tools, such as sticky notes and wrapping paper, to start our process mapping. These tools create an environment where everyone can contribute and collaborate effectively, ensuring that no ideas are overlooked.
Conclusion
Process mapping is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance our robotics team’s efficiency and success in the upcoming FTC season. By breaking down complex tasks, improving communication, and fostering collaboration, we can streamline our workflow and ensure that every team member’s efforts are aligned with our goals. Beyond the immediate benefits, process mapping also allows us to mentor future teams by passing on our experiences and lessons learned.
As we move forward with our preparations, Jessica’s insights on process mapping will be invaluable in helping us build a stronger, more efficient team capable of tackling any challenge that comes our way.
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