Kurtis Patel | How Early Team Alignment Prevents Production Delays

Kurtis Patel

Production delays are often blamed on equipment failures or supplier issues, but many delays originate earlier in the process. Kurtis Patel emphasizes that misalignment between teams is a frequent and preventable cause of manufacturing disruption.

Misalignment occurs when development, manufacturing, and quality teams operate with different assumptions. Development may design a formula without understanding manufacturing constraints. Quality requirements may be introduced late in the process. Manufacturing may build schedules without visibility into testing or revision cycles. These gaps often surface when timelines are already compressed.

Early alignment allows teams to identify constraints while there is still flexibility to adjust. Kurtis Patel notes that shared planning discussions help teams agree on timelines, testing requirements, and operational expectations before decisions become fixed. This coordination reduces surprises later and improves execution.

Clear alignment also improves accountability. When teams understand how their decisions affect others, communication improves and issues are identified earlier. This shared understanding reduces the need for reactive problem-solving during production.

Importantly, alignment does not require constant meetings. It requires structured communication and documentation that keeps teams working from the same information. When expectations are clear and revisited regularly, execution becomes more predictable.

According to Kurtis Patel, production delays are often the result of avoidable misalignment. When teams align early and maintain shared visibility, manufacturing systems operate with fewer interruptions and greater confidence.