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Production Training Simulator
Unleashing a software rollover.
Teaching an old program new tricks.
Challenge
While AGI’s production simulator application was still considered viable, the DOS-based simulation portrayed a negative image of AGI’s business concepts, not keeping current with the times. Adding insult — problems with backward compatibility were rapidly growing.
Background
AGI Goldratt Institute is a leading provider of Theory Of Constraints (TOC) expertise. AGI considered rewriting its core training software internally but decided instead that an outside development firm would bring more focus to the project and yield better results. AGI researched various software firms, most of whom recommended that AGI meet with a senior developer and immediately begin specifying new logic. AO began with a question: since the student’s interaction with the application could make or break the training experience, shouldn’t we start by designing these interactions to ensure good usability? AGI agreed. The real work started.
Project Overview
AGI Goldratt sought to understand what their students needed and ultimately rewrote a simulator app for production training exercises.
Industry
Consulting: Organizational improvement using TOC, Lean, Six Sigma
Project Type
Desktop Simulator Application
Project Size
- 12 Months
- 2-4 Atoms
Services
- Software Development
- User Interface Consulting
- Integration Testing
Technical Nitty Gritty
- JRuby, Ruby, Java
- Swing, Batik
- Win 2K/XP/Vista, OS X, Linux
- more…
You’re Not the DOS of Me
Moving beyond the limits of AGI’s existing DOS applications required much more than updating to current technology. Not only did AGI need to look like the modern, progressive, market leader it was, AGI also required cross-platform functionality, and it realized, with AO’s counsel, that the user experience was central to the project’s success. The total effort was as much a challenge in its technical aspects as it was in its user experience design. With its technology selections, AO pushed the envelope of what the software community thought was possible. And, towards crafting a user-centric design, AO went so far as to research a color palette that would work on a wide array of monitors and projectors while still meeting the needs of color blind users.
Learning to Crawl Before You Run
To tackle this large project in a responsible manner, AO broke everything – design, development, and testing – into small steps that incorporated learning, feedback, and change all along the way. Atoms took AGI’s curriculum in order to understand the training experience. AO ordered the work of each development iteration per AGI’s prioritization and delivered a runnable, tested build every week for use by AGI team members. Periodic exploratory testing of the application uncovered confusing interactions as well as bugs that had escaped automated testing. Sessions with novice users identified usability problems and opportunities.
Results
- The iterative process proved invaluable in addressing complicated program features, and in keeping the client involved in development
- AGI has successfully used the new program for over a year in its instructor led training
- Training sessions that were often interrupted to explain program nuances to students now run smoothly
- All internal training modules have been replaced; the new program is now a building block that AGI is using for a new self-study learning program
Customer Experience
“The development experience was absolutely delightful. We’ve successfully used the new software for over a year for internal training; the change is incredible.”
- Bruce Watson, Director of Product Development
Gallery
Screenshots
(Note: the new app's cropped shots here link to big beautiful full images)
New Production Simulator's chrome, simulation area, & widgets (full image)
New Production Simulator's Buffer Management interface (full image)