Company G

Last week we talked about the preparation of our audit assignment that has to be included in our final company report.

Audits

We visited company G last Friday to analyze how well they operate in this project. We asked several questions to the managing board. Members of the managing board include the main manager of company, the production team managers and the manager of the e-team. After asking all these staff member we came to the conclusion that company G has the potential to get a good result out of this project. Their strengths are: a relaxed environment, clear communication and collaboration between the production teams and they already recruited several sponsorship deals probably indicating that their project is attractive to external companies. However, this company isn’t as flawless as the staff members suggested. We found a very important weaknesses that was easy to track and identify. Their main weakness is the e-team, more specifically  their manager that  appeared clueless when we asked him some questions about his team. He had little confidence in his team and often mocked his team because most of the members of the e-team were lazy and lacked knowledge of hardware components which really surprised us. The e-team is responsible for all the  hardware in the robots and the hardware is basically synonym to the brains of the robot. This lack of effort and knowledge might instigate their downfall.

Sponsorship

Well is it necessary? One production team approached me the other day with the suggestion that they might need more money. They calculated the expected costs and that amount exceeded the given budget. We might be able to obtain a deal with shell. Shell has funded several projects in previous drivexchange years so maybe they’re interested in funding our projects. And those 60 euros are only to be spend within Windesheim. So advanced components won’t be available with 60 euro making it harder to win the competition.

Contribution industrial management students compared to others

I’m in favor for the industrial management students, they are the beating heart of our company and I think without them this company would fall apart, so I don’t really understand the complains. Every team, every project needs someone or a group that is capable of leading them. In this case this are the industrial management students. Maybe the industrial management students don’t really contribute to the result, however they are responsible for everything that happens within this company even the bad things and I don’t think electrical and mechanical are fully aware of that fact.

Replacement for manger of production team 3