John Helfen

Each day, I enter another conversation around manufacturing, speed-to-manufacturing and product profitability, however more often than not I find a broken thread, often between design/engineering and the realities of manufacturing and so I thought I'd drop on an excerpt from one of my recent blogs:

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💡 Are you energized by the mission to help engineering teams bring life-changing product to market faster? 💪 Are you seeking to join a company whose values align with yours - kindness & respect come first, ownership mentality, better everyday, one team, one mission? ☀️ Are you ready to play an integral role as a founding CS team member (Strategic CSM / Sr. CSM), helping us define, build and execute in building a best-in-class CS organization? YES! YES! YES! Let's do thissssss. Check out the 3 new roles on my team @ CoLab Software that we've just opened up - 2 Strategic CSM positions + 1 Sr. CSM! Link 👇 in comments #hiring #customersuccess #engineering

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AI-powered #ConnectedWorker platforms are changing the game for the world's most innovative manufacturers. How do you think #AI and frontline workers will be collaborating on the factory floor in the years to come? Check out the article below from Automation.com reporting on Poka's release of AI-powered features. 💪 #Manufacturing #Innovation #Automation

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Since launching last Fall, its been incredible to see all the many workflows and integrations that companies are building with Lucid's Developer Platform. We've seen companies build automated processes and deeply linked templates that help with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Engineering teams get the most out of Lucid. Come learn how to get started building from two of our engineers on the API teams who help engineers build these integrations every day.

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Ever wondered what it takes to thrive in extreme, high-stakes environments? NASA astronaut Cady Coleman has some insights.  During her 24 years at NASA, Cady learned to navigate the pressure of space missions by honing an operational mindset. This means always being prepared, anticipating the unexpected, and creating a culture of transparency and teamwork. Key lessons for earthbound teams? Practice meticulous preparation, embrace transparency by sharing mistakes, and stay mission-focused. Cady’s experiences, from running emergency drills to handling multicultural team dynamics on the ISS, highlight the importance of flexibility and clear communication. Her story is a powerful reminder: whether in space or on Earth, teamwork and preparation are critical to success. #Leadership #Teamwork #NASA #SpaceExploration https://lnkd.in/gPSsP3GN

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IT/OT convergence is an established practice, but adding #engineering technology means all your operations groups are working together. Learn more from Stan DeVries in his recent blog ➡️https://bit.ly/3zZuXiq

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Check out "Flow Engineering" by Steve Pereira, a practical guide to unlocking innovation and optimizing performance with value stream mapping techniques. This lightweight and iterative approach, based on foundations from cybernetics and the Toyota Production System, helps align teams and build the clarity and flow necessary for effective collaboration. Co-authored by Value Stream Mapping experts Steve Pereira and Andrew Davis, "Flow Engineering" provides a step-by-step guide for running fast-paced mapping workshops that rapidly build shared understanding. Say goodbye to misalignment, friction, and stalled workflow - get your copy of "Flow Engineering" today! #FlowEngineering #ValueStreamMapping #Collaboration #Optimization

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Last week, our Engineering, IT, Data, PMO, and Product teams gathered in Milwaukee for our Summer QBR and Popup Office—a perfect setting for deep #collaboration and reflection. Among the highlights of the sessions was a comprehensive learning review, which helps drive continuous improvement. What we love about these retrospective sessions is the opportunity to step back and take a look at the bigger picture. The goal is to identify actionable improvements in processes, systems, and team communication that will help our organization grow. Here are 5 best practices we find valuable for retrospective learning: 1️⃣ Be reflective and collaborative: a learning review should be more than just a post-mortem. It’s an opportunity for collective reflection where teams can draw on diverse perspectives across the organization. 2️⃣ Honesty and transparency are key: embrace a blameless culture that encourages honesty and openness. It’s not about who messed up; it’s about how we, as a collective, can get better. The moment blame enters the equation, learning shuts down. 3️⃣ Focus on improvement: we don’t just ask what went wrong—we ask how we can evolve. The review focuses on improving our understanding, practices, team dynamics, and tools. It's about equipping our teams with the insights they need to be better prepared for the future challenges. 4️⃣ Take a data-driven approach: leverage both quantitative and qualitative data during learning reviews. Quantitative data provides objective metrics and trends while qualitative data, such as team feedback and customer insights, adds context and depth to these metrics. By integrating both types of #data, we ensure that discussions are grounded in evidence, enabling us to identify #patterns, validate assumptions, and make more effective, well-rounded decisions for future growth. 5️⃣ Find actionable insights: the outcome from the learning review should be an action plan that can be implemented to improve the overall effectiveness of the teams. Don’t just fix problems—learn from them, grow from them, and watch your organization become stronger because of it. #Learningreview #SaaS #Leadership #DevOps #Technology #Innovation #teamculture

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One thing I like about formally modeling systems in TLA+ and Fizzbee is that when someone asks me why a particular check is performed or a constraint exists I can show what happens when I disable it. Showing a counterexample that someone would never have considered is really fun. In fact, once you've developed a model, it's fun to start disabling stuff, just to see the impact. It really helps to internalize how each piece of the design contributes to the advertised properties. I did this yesterday with my Apache Iceberg spec after being asked about a particular data conflict case, more just for me to remind myself of what bad scenarios the conflict check in question prevented. I disabled it and got a counterexample of an undelete. Then I disabled delete operations and got a lost update from two conflicting updates.

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Big update from the team at Lucid Software! Today, I’ll be presenting at our bi-annual Lately @ Lucid event, alongside a fantastic crew: Susan Taylor Schmidt, Bear Shelton, Blake Bohacek, and Emily K.. We’ve been hard at work rolling out some exciting new tools designed to streamline teamwork and enhance project alignment. During the webinar, we’ll dive deep into: • The benefits these new features bring to team dynamics. • Practical demonstrations to showcase these tools in real-world scenarios. Experience innovation in real-time and see how it can reshape your workflow. 👇 Find the registration link in the comments!

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I'm thrilled to share that Lucid Software is making some big moves. Next week, on October 1st, we’re launching features that have genuinely changed the way I do product management. Lucid has become an essential part of how I approach my work, especially when managing agile teams. These new updates? Game-changers. They’ve helped me collaborate better, visualize complex workflows, and just keep things running more smoothly. If you want to see what I’m so excited about, join us for our Lately @ Lucid webinar—you can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gsjFje5V. I can’t wait for you all to experience it firsthand! #LucidSoftware #Agile #ProductManagement #Webinar

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Had some enlightening conversations on the future with Autodesk Platform Services & AI with Jaime Rosales D. and Sanjana Chand on the sidelines of Autodesk University. Check out my high-tech, futuristic 'thinking' hat! 🤠 #AutodeskUniversity #APS

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Moving from engine manufacturing (shout out to SRC Holdings Corporation) into the tech industry with the incredible team at Classy Llama has been quite the journey. Learning about new apps, platforms, and the savings these solutions can deliver is exciting. But technology also comes with risks—and today, I want to highlight one that might not be on your radar. I recently sat through an impressive webinar showcasing a tool that combines screen and face recording with integrated AI. It was eye-opening—not only because of its business potential but also because of what it foreshadows. One of the features demonstrated was AI's ability to replicate a speaker's voice convincingly. Imagine recording one video for a customer, then swapping the names out using AI to create personalized videos for 15 other customers—perfectly pronouncing each name, seamlessly swapping in new visuals. During the demo, even knowing it was a fake, I couldn't tell the difference. The technology was that convincing. But here’s the thing: tools like these are a double-edged sword. When it comes to logins, money transfers, and sensitive information, having a plan is crucial. Scamming has become a quasi-legitimate industry in many places, and it's only a matter of time before these powerful tools are used maliciously. Imagine receiving a call from a loved one with an urgent, time-sensitive plea for money. Or being instructed by "corporate" to send a secret wire transfer as part of a confidential acquisition. These scenarios aren't hypothetical—they're happening now. (See the link below for an example of a $25 million scam.) These tactics will become mainstream. Protect your family and your business. Here are some ways to stay safe: 1. Verify identities before sending money or discussing sensitive topics—regardless of voice or appearance. 2. Consider using a "challenge and response" system, like the military sometimes does. For instance, if I mention "razor scooters," my brother-in-law James has to include the word "lawsuit" in his response—a hidden code only we know. (totally fabricated by the way. Our code is far more rad than this) 3. Verify loved ones by asking about shared memories not publicly available. Be careful not to use details a scammer could find on social media. 4. Trust your instincts if something feels off. Tech can be incredible. At Classy Llama, we integrate systems that have saved companies 1,000-5,500+ hours per year by reducing non-value labor. We help minimizing errors, streamlining workflow, and improving quality. We help create amazing experiences for both employees and customers. So chase the positive potential of tech—but stay vigilant against its dark side. Any cool tech you love? Do you have other examples of nasty new scams to be aware of? Best practices to keep people safe?

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