User Research

Talking to Production Planners from Infor client roster, I learned that they had many problems performing most important day-to-day activity : to diagnose and manage roadblocks before they happen for efficient manufacturing. I discovered they need to quickly prioritize order exceptions (alerts), and get enough contextual information to enable better, faster decisions that impact the organization’s bottom line.

Wireframe and Design

I collaborated closely with two Infor Product Managers, a creative director and a visual designer. I pushed to continue our interviews with Production Planners and show them work-in-progress wireframes and visual designs. After some iterations, we created a visual timeline cascade concept. We tested it right away, and discovered it actually resembled the large charts some of them draw by hand and keep updated in their office. It was a welcome break from the Excel-looking screens they were used to looking at all day long.

Prototype

We created a prototype made in MarvelApp with visual designs, and tested it at an Infor conference with production planners and customers. It received extremely positive feedback all around. The prototype, visual comps and annotated wireframe document were handed over to the product technology team for development.

Production Planning Schema

Initial Design Exploration for User Research

Wireframe

Wireframe

Visual Design