The MAHD Framework has been adopted by leading product development organizations in over 20 countries, spanning industries from consumer electronics to defense systems. Teams use MAHD-based agile methods to accelerate development, adapt to change, and strengthen their focus on customer value.
With methods and tactics rooted in agile principles, MAHD gives teams a smarter way of working to reduce waste and focus on the project elements that matter most to success.
Every organization is unique and the benefits do not come from one tool, one ceremony, or a simple set of tactics. They come from the integrated framework and operating model that guide teams toward better tasks, stronger collaboration, clearer trade-offs, and more effective decisions at each step of the project.
MAHD IPAC Iterations deliver a clear understanding of tangible project progress through demonstrated prototype functionality and feedback with throughout the development process.
The MAHD Framework starts with collaboration among team members to identify critical project elements, such as customer needs, risk, innovation, schedule, targets, and resources. Collaboration continues on a regular basis to ensure that the project remains on track.
The MAHD On-ramp results in a comprehensive view of the project in a fraction of the time typical of traditional processes. Teams start with an aligned Iteration Plan ready for execution.
With a consistent focus on demonstrable progress and learning through customer feedback and technical evaluation loops, data is gathered early for faster and better resource/scope/schedule tradeoff decisions.
At its core, the MAHD Framework emphasizes early and consistent focus on resolving unknowns, prioritizing customer value, and leveraging rapid learning and execution to mitigate both technical and commercial risks.
Since 2017, the MAHD Framework has helped teams go on average 25% to 50% faster, with reduced risk and higher customer value.
Source: MAHD Framework Survey, October 2024, 31 company responses representing 112 projects.
*Speed Benefits of MAHD Projects based on questin, “From initial approval to first customer shipment, for past or current projects using the MAHD Framework, what change in time-to-market have you experienced or do you anticipate? (Estimate in increments of 5%)”
Investing in process improvement should produce measurable business results. Based on MAHD experience and customer feedback, the MAHD Framework helps teams accelerate time-to-market by an average of 25%, while increasing customer value and reducing wasted effort.
These benefits create meaningful financial impact by:
Reducing waste from rework, decision delays, unclear priorities, and low-value activities
Improving product-market fit by helping teams deliver the right solutions on time, with current technology and a faster learning cadence
Strengthening margins through higher customer value, better competitive differentiation, and less effort spent on features that do not matter
The value compounds across projects and over time. More efficient teams can deliver more—and better—solutions. Saved resources can be reinvested in technology, skills, and higher-value opportunities. Stronger pipelines also help teams focus on the projects with the greatest market potential.
Use our Project ROI Estimator to compare traditional development results with a MAHD-based approach and estimate how MAHD could improve the return on your projects.
Waterfall processes have been around for decades, and about 80% of companies use some form of phase-gate NPD process. These processes provide an overall governance structure but little guidance on how to manage an effective way of working. Rigid project management tools attempt to fill the gaps, but most teams find they hinder rather than improve efforts. Some of the top challenges with waterfall processes include:
Overly optimistic schedules and scope based on assumptions
Decisions are based on opinions and influence more than real data or customer insight
Collaboration is limited and development functions are often more at odds than aligned
Agile methods and the MAHD Framework can help with each of these challenges. Browse the 10 Benefits of MAHD Vs. Traditional NPD to learn more.
Agile works. There is substantial research that indicate agile methods are superior to traditional waterfall approaches for both software AND hardware. So why don’t more hardware teams adopt agile methods?
Common Objections to Adopting Agile
The objections we often hear from hardware teams are:
“Hardware must be completed to a schedule. Agile doesn’t do this.”
“We need to be able to communicate and plan for a specific, predictable outcome.”
“We can’t just stay flexible and keep adding features as they get defined. Hardware doesn’t work that way.”
“We can’t break our work down into 2-week sprints. Hardware doesn’t work that way.”
“We can’t develop a working prototype every sprint. Who has those kind of resources?”
“There are too many dependencies, lead time issues, shared resources, (fill-in-the-blank) for hardware that Agile can’t handle.”
“Agile won’t work for hardware. Period.”
Because most people directly associate the tactics of Agile they are familiar with, such as Scrum, these objections are well-founded.
However, each of these objections are easily addressed with the right mindset and tactics. It’s desirable and possible to manage to a schedule; prototype development should be strategic, not dogmatic; lead times and dependencies can easily align with agile tactics, etc.
With tactics designed for hardware, the MAHD Framework removes these objections so teams can focus on what works, and not the dogma often associated with “agile.”
Whether you are evaluating agile for hardware, ready to pilot a project, or looking for answers to specific challenges, we have resources to help you move forward in your agile journey.
Understand why hardware development requires a purpose-built agile approach.
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