PROJECT SUCCESS OF SILICON RADAR GMBH

How Silicon Radar combines resource management with project controlling and uses scenarios to make confident decisions.

Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz

"Planforge combines high functionality with ease of use."

Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz Program Manager Silicon Radar GmbH

The Benefits

  • Easier management of teams in complex matrix organizations

  • Autonomous integration of external tools through Planforge's API

  • More accurate project and resource management with scenario planning

  • Informed management decisions using the timeline feature

Silicon Radar is an award-winning company serving customers worldwide:

Silicon Radar GmbH, based in Frankfurt (Oder), designs and develops high-frequency circuits for radar, sensor, and wireless communications.

  • Consists of an international team with in-depth system know-how

  • Has been specializing in the development of standardized chip products and ASICs since 2006

  • Successfully completed research & development projects among German & European carriers

Silicon Radar GmbH Firmengebäude Silicon Radar's Location in Frankfurt

The Challenge

Silicon Radar initially had no software solution to monitor its project management landscape. The company used Excel and other tools to gain insights into project status and progress.

However, the growing number of 'digital documents' led to an inconsistent view of project phases and steps as well as individual tasks and processes.

Additionally, the company undertakes various external customer projects which require accurate documentation and allocation of effort to each project. Once again, effort, such as employee hours, were also entered via digital documents.

Quotation Mark

We didn't have a project management system before, so we did what many companies do: use Excel and other tools. However, this often resulted in inconsistent project visualization.

— Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz
Program Manager

In addition, Silicon Radar needed a clear overview of the financial aspects of projects to document internal management requirements for project progress and outcomes, such as:

  • How much budget is left?

  • What has the budget been used for?

  • Which projects have used up the budget?

To meet these challenges, the company was looking for a software solution that would provide a transparent view of project activities while seamlessly integrating project controlling and resource management.

Screenshot Example: Controlling in Planforge

Quotation Mark

Planforge provides balanced program management across multiple projects with the ability to create scenarios.

— Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz
Program Manager

The Solution

Today, Silicon Radar benefits from a clearly structured project landscape in Planforge.

The tool enables individual departments to keep track of ongoing projects, thus promoting greater project management transparency.

The company benefits from Planforge's combination of resource management and project controlling.

Ressourcen Management in Planforge

Quotation Mark

We can now implement the magic triangle of project management holistically. This allows us to efficiently plan and control quality, time, and budget.

— Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz
Program Manager

Screenshot

Silicon Radar uses the software to monitor all resources of its development projects, including time tracking, and to analyze progress and utilization regarding resources and budget.

For example, the company evaluates time tracking at project and work package level and effectively compares the results with project progress reporting in controlling.

Quotation Mark

We now have a clear overview of our entire project landscape. We can see how our internal and external projects are structured and connected within the company.

— Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz
Program Manager

GANTT-Chart

Example: The Gantt chart in Planforge

Resource-Management-Software-by-Planforge

Example: Resource management in Planforge

Breakout „Bird-Perspective Projects":


Silicon Radar creates portfolios for "framework" or "bird's-eye" projects that mirror all higher-level project and product interrelationships -

from pilot development to series production, including the supply chain.

chip

Within these portfolios, Silicon Radar uses gate checks, scenario planning, and the timeline to make clear decisions about the ongoing development of individual product categories.

The timeline provides a transparent view of these decision points, supporting informed decision-making.

Quotation Mark

A key parameter in our decision-making is the transparency provided by the timeline.

— Jan Balbach-Sobkowicz
Program Manager

The Benefit

According to Silicon Radar, the main reasons for choosing Planforge were the tool's cost advantage, scalability, ease of use, and ability to be deployed on-premises.

The company particularly values the software’s manageability and range of functionality. Mr. Balbach explains that Planforge helps him to work in a disciplined, goal-oriented, and structured way. In his opinion, these aspects are indispensable for a successful routine in everyday project work.

Silicon Radar GmbH Firmengebäude Example: Hybrid KPIs in Planforge

Silicon Radar's Project Landscape:


  • Customer projects (e.g., development projects)

  • Funded projects at national level

  • Customer projects at EU level

  • Projects with external partners


  • Internal product devlopment projects (e.g., radarchips)

  • Supply chain projects (e.g., modeling of series production)

  • Management projects (e.g., tool implementations)

  • "Bird-Perspective" projects (read more)


Beispiel

Example: The project dashboard in Planforge

Beispiel

Example: The timeline in Planforge

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