Social Search Is Changing How Engineers Find Expertise and Here’s What We’re Seeing
Over the past month, something notable happened at HatchOne. A growing number of conversations didn’t begin with a Google search. They didn’t start with a traditional RFP or a referral chain. They started on social platforms, especially TikTok. Mechanical engineers, product designers, and engineering leaders were finding us through short, practical teaching moments: design reviews, [...] Read More
How I Evaluate a Mechanical Engineering Design in the First Minutes
As a mechanical engineering leader, I can usually tell within the first 10 minutes whether a design is on a solid path, or quietly accumulating risk. Not because I’m faster or smarter than the team. It’s because mechanical engineering design problems repeat. The same gaps show up again and again: unclear requirements, hidden assumptions, interface [...] Read More
5 things I look for when I pick up ANY part and what it tells me about the engineer behind it
Whenever I pick up a part, any part, I can tell a lot about the engineer who designed it. Most people see “a piece of plastic.” A product design engineer sees decisions, tradeoffs, constraints… and sometimes compromises. Here are the 5 things I look for immediately and what they reveal: Gate location Tells me whether [...] Read More
Zooming Between 30,000 Feet and 1,000 Feet: A Career-Defining Skill in Engineering
Over the last 20 years in product development, I’ve observed something rare, and it’s become one of the most important skills I work to help engineers train in themselves. It’s the ability to operate at the 30,000-foot level and then immediately drop into the 1,000-foot level without losing momentum. At 30,000 feet, you’re asking the [...] Read More
Why Project Management Is Key to Project Success
You can assemble the most talented cross-functional team in the world, engineers, designers, marketers, finance, operations, and still fall short of your goals. Why? Because without strong project management, even the best teams risk drifting off course. Project management is more than timelines, tools, or Gantt charts. It’s the strategic leadership discipline that turns good [...] Read More
How AI is Transforming Mechanical Engineering
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept, it’s here, reshaping how we design, test, and manufacture products. For mechanical engineers, the rise of AI is redefining workflows, unlocking efficiencies, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in product development. Whether you’re working on precision components or large-scale systems, AI tools are rapidly becoming [...] Read More
What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving framework rooted in understanding user needs, challenging assumptions, redefining problems, and generating creative solutions. It typically follows five phases: Empathize – Understand the user's needs, context, and pain points. Define – Clearly articulate the problem you're solving. Ideate – Brainstorm and explore a range of creative solutions. Prototype – [...] Read More
How to Collaborate Across Teams and Communicate a Product Vision
Bringing a physical product to life takes more than just a great concept — it requires seamless collaboration between product design, mechanical engineering, marketing, and manufacturing. For product managers, founders, and cross-functional leads, learning to speak each team’s language and clearly communicate your product’s vision is the key to success. Here’s how to do it [...] Read More
Prioritizing Customer Needs: Building Products That Truly Deliver
Building a great product isn't just about having a brilliant idea—it's about solving real problems for your customers. Prioritizing customer needs and ensuring that your product meets those needs is crucial to success. But how do you identify and prioritize what truly matters, and how can you ensure those requirements translate into your product? Here’s [...] Read More
Annual Reviews – Huh? Communication, really?
Strong communication is essential for teamwork, fostering collaboration, and ensuring alignment. I’m currently writing annual reviews and realizing that clear, concise communication is a skill that needs constant practice. Here are some items I expect from teams. Define Clear Objectives Set clear goals for communication—The ‘Kim Request’ at the beginning of most meetings, including [...] Read More
Harvard Review – Managing Creativity and Innovation
Fostering Innovation: Insights from Harvard Business Review’s Managing Creativity and Innovation I've read, reread, recommended, and gifted this book to many aspiring engineers and creatives, and it deserves a dedicated blog. First published in 2003, I first read it on a flight back from Baja and was struck by its concise guidelines for fostering innovation [...] Read More
How to Concept Ideas for Innovation
In the competitive world of product development, the ability to generate, refine, and select ideas is critical to creating successful and innovative products. A structured approach can help teams move from a vast pool of concepts to the top three best ideas, ready for implementation. Here, we explore the best practices for ideating, converging, and [...] Read More
Early Simulations in Product Development
In today’s new product development, the margin for error is razor-thin. Companies must deliver high-quality products while meeting timelines and controlling costs. A critical tool that enables this balance is early-stage simulations, which allow engineers to predict how products will perform under real-world conditions before physical prototypes are built. By incorporating techniques like Computational Fluid [...] Read More
Proof of Concept Prototypes Help Make Great Products
In the competitive world of product engineering, turning ideas into reality requires more than just a great concept and technical expertise. Product development is an iterative process, and one of the most critical steps is building Proof of Concept (PoC) prototypes. These early-stage prototypes play a vital role in validating ideas, reducing risks, and ensuring [...] Read More
Unlocking Success: How Market Understanding and Consumer Insights Ensure Good Products
In today’s fast-paced business environment, launching a product is much more than just coming up with an innovative idea. It’s about understanding the market landscape and deeply aligning with consumer preferences. The most brilliant product ideas can fail if they don’t resonate with the needs and desires of their target audience. This is where understanding [...] Read More
The Crucial Role of Requirements in Engineering Design
In the realm of engineering, the foundation of every successful project lies in the requirements. These are the clear, detailed, and actionable statements that describe what a product should do. Good requirements are the bedrock upon which strong engineering designs are built. Here’s why well-defined requirements are essential for creating effective and innovative engineering solutions: [...] Read More
The Importance of Strategic Thinking in Product Development and Engineering
Strategic thinking is the cornerstone of successful product development and engineering. It involves the systematic planning, assessment, and execution of actions that align with long-term goals and visions. Here’s why strategic thinking is indispensable in these fields: 1. Vision Alignment and Goal Setting Strategic thinking helps in setting a clear vision for product development. By [...] Read More
Things I’ve Learned Leading and Transforming Engineering Teams
Leadership is both an art and a science, particularly when it comes to guiding engineering teams. Over the years, I’ve gathered a wealth of experience and insights on what it takes to not only lead but also transform engineering teams into high-performing, cohesive units. Here are the key lessons I’ve learned: 1. Building Trust Observing, [...] Read More
When is it time to let go in product development?
HatchOne recently had to let go of a product development project, not because we didn’t believe in the product but because the business objectives no longer showed success. This blog highlights the importance of understanding when a great idea might not make it to market. It's important to keep your eyes wide open and always [...] Read More
Engineers that Write
Engineers that write well bring a skillset to a team that’s woefully overlooked. HatchOne is helping a startup understand, align and write product documentation from first Design Brief and R&D documents to critical Engineering Specifications. It is reminding me how critical clear, concise writing is for successful product development. Process and Documentation Defining and documenting [...] Read More