​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fast-Cycle Project Execution Risk Factors:

• Resources                         
  
• Alignment      
  
• Resistance
  
• Optionality
  
• Resiliency
  
• Scalability
• Scarcity
  
• Disruption
  
• Complexity
  

Lesson: Lost opportunity depending on third party test service capabilities
Background:  Sourcing Crayons and Sidewalk Chalk for Toy Premium Projects during 1992-93.  It was difficult to select reliable sources due to repeated product safety test failures.  Third Party Testing Services quoted as much as $10,000 dollar per order which was cost prohibited (i.e. testing fee unit cost more then the manufactured product cost).
Requirement: Safety Compliance
Action Items: Due Diligence sourcing outside China,  starting with Malaysia then Mexico when schedules are too short (i.e. less transit time).
Results: Malaysia and Mexico source.
Lesson Learned:  Third Party Test Services must be carefully scrutinized (i.e. rent-seekers, conflicts of interest, no skin in the  game).

Lesson: Product testing toy premiums manufacturing in USA early 1990's:
Background: Schedule required US manufacturing (Printing, Extruded Tube, Vacuum form caps).
Requirement: Safety Compliance
Action Items: Due Diligence product safety testing from US based test lab.
Results: Ad-hoc use of third party test lab that specialized in home goods flammability testing.
Lesson Learned: Third party toy test labs didn't operate in United States. 

Lesson: Third Party Product Evaluation Assessment that compelled seeking Master degree in Quality Assurance (i.e. early 1990's).:
Background: .Balloons inflated with encapsulated  citrus juice and baking soda (i.e. commonly used in tooth paste).
Requirement: Product Evaluation 
Action Items: Third party product safety testing.
Results: Third Party Test Lab Services recommended animal test for toxicity assessment which failed due to the baking soda ingredient.
Lesson Learned: Third Party Test Lab Services are best for validating predicted results (i.e. research test before submitting for final test).
Based on this project incident (i.e. surprised derailment by third party test report) and a recently published 1993 Business Book:
"Fast Cycle Time:  How to Align Purpose, Strategy, and Structure for Speed by Christopher Meyer (1993)"
instincts compelled seeking advance education on Quality Assurance.
Fortunately a nearby California State University offered night school Masters of Quality Assurance Programs.
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Lesson: Preparing toy premium factories for HACCP style audits for Fast-Food  Quick Service Restaurant Client (QSR) ( 1990's).
Background: QSR client required suppliers to implement Hazards Analysis of Critical Control Point  (HACCP) principles.
Requirement:  Train premium toy factory staff.
Action Items: Audit factories for HACCP Style Audits.
Results: We became the first supplier for client to achieve pass results of Third Party audit to client's custom HACCP style Audit.
Lesson Learned: Faster-Better-Cheaper is ultimate competitive advantage.

Lesson:  Holiday Plush Bunny required US source manufacturing (1990's)
Background:
Requirement:  Schedule, Cost, Specifications
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson:  Compliance Database Implementation (1990's)
Background:
Requirement:  Schedule, Cost, Specifications
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson: On-site CAP judgement with Brand character puzzle toy (1990's).
Background: .A famous brand character puzzle featured as mail-in gift.  The die cut shape design produced sharp points.
Requirement:
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson: Nudges on balancing toy (1990's) :
Background: .
Requirement:
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Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson: Research testing: batteries, magnets, latex materials (1990's).:
Background: .
Requirement:
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson: Third-Party Testing, Inspection and Audit Service Reliability.
Background: Third Party Services results consistency between difference employees performing the test, inspection and audit.
Requirement:
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned: Hire company and request same staff to perform  research test/inspection/audit to establish corrective actions to implement before requesting same company and staff to perform official  test/inspection/audit.

Lesson: Preparing factories for third party factory audits by US Big Box retailers (2000's).
Background: On-boarding new factories required preparing factory staff for a third party factory audit by local Big Box hired auditors.
Requirement:
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson: Trial order discipline (2000's):
Background: .
Requirement:
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Lesson:  Snow domes 
Background:
Requirement:  
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Lesson:  Death Star Spinning
Background: 
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Lesson:  Balancing Boba Fett
Background: 
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Lesson: Onboarding new less expensive Cellulose Acetate resin producer.
Background:
Requirement:
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Lesson Learned:

Lesson: Counter Sampling.
Background:
Requirement: .  
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Lesson: Onboarding Ride-on toy.
Background:
Requirement: No audit requirement initially.  
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned:

Lesson:  Onboarding new factories for legacy best selling business case.
Background:
Requirement:
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Lesson:  Factory owners with the most "skin in the game"  are proactive and cooperative to compliance standards.
Background: The notion that factories proactively short cut is disingenuous because often factories need proactive instruction from clients.
Requirement:
Action Items:
Results:
Lesson Learned: Honest capable factories seek long term steady business and continuous improvements.  Reducing execution risk using quality assurance tools create trust and business confidence to avoid looking over their shoulders for surprise risks and aggressive demands.

Lesson:  Onboarding new factories to meet Labor Standard Compliance.
Background:
Requirement:
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Lesson Learned:

Examples of policies that impact execution risk:

2000   Clinton Whitehouse Archives:   Labor Aspects of PNTR: Benefits for American Workers and Farmers May 12, 2000 (archives.gov)

     "The United States continues to make clear our concerns about labor rights violations in China. President Clinton and President Jiang announced a dialogue on labor issues in June 1998 that addresses core labor standards, labor law, and development of social safety net issues. In 1998, China joined the United States and other members of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in adopting a new Declaration of Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work. This Declaration included a follow-up compliance mechanism and covered rights such as freedom of association, right of collective bargaining, non-discrimination, and the abolition of forced labor. The Chinese Minister of Labor and Social Security visited Washington in 1999 to begin the bilateral labor dialogue. Secretary Herman made clear the priority we place on implementation of internationally recognized labor standards, and our firm opposition to and deep concern about the detention, arrest, and imprisonment of persons for labor-related activities that are protected by ILO standards. The U.S. has supported ILO findings on China’s law and practice in the area of freedom of association."

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2014     New policy from ICTI CARE Foundation on “demo factories” that subcontract nearly all work from sanitized facilities to factories outside system.

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Thomas Doyle  MSc.

Execution Risk