December 13, 2023

Jonah Coleman Part 1 of 2: Millwork Engineering Department Structures

51 minutes

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In this in-depth conversation, join Jonah Coleman, Scrum Product Owner at Innergy, as he shares valuable insights into optimizing the efficiency and productivity of engineering departments. The discussion delves into key topics such as change management, utilizing feedback, and aligning engineering practices with the overall business goals. Drawing from his wealth of experience in millwork and software development, Coleman provides practical advice and strategies, including implementing daily stand-ups, fostering open communication with the shop floor, and understanding a company's unique market position. Tune in next week for the second part of the interview where we explore Energy, the state-of-the-art engineering software Coleman is involved with.

00:00 Introduction
01:26 Interview with Jonah Coleman: Scrum Product Owner
02:34 Jonah's Journey into Millwork Industry
03:51 Transition from Millwork to Software Development
04:15 Jonah's Background in Programming
06:27 The Role of Engineering in Business
07:53 Common Pain Points in Engineering
09:28 The Bottleneck Issue in Engineering
10:27 The Importance of Aligning Engineering with Business Goals
12:46 The Challenge of Change Management in Engineering
15:23 The Role of Leadership in Managing Engineering Departments
23:54 The Illusion of Improvements in Non-Bottleneck Steps
24:58 The Pitfalls of Departmental Optimization
25:52 The Importance of Big Picture Understanding
26:10 Engineering Efficiency vs. Organizational Efficiency
27:16 The Impact of Departmental Decisions on Workflow
30:30 The Importance of Interdepartmental Communication
31:44 The Role of Accountability in Engineering
32:27 The Importance of Feedback in Engineering
37:14 The Role of Engineering in Business Strategy
43:43 The Importance of Understanding Market Position
49:12 The Role of Quality and Customer Service in Differentiation

https://duckworksmw.com/podcast/jonah-coleman-part-1-of-2-millwork-engineering-department-structures