Lessons from a Thermo Fisher Agile Hardware Transformation

About this event

Many Agile methods were developed for software organizations and assume conditions that do not exist in hardware development. Applying those methods without adaptation can create confusion and disappointing results. In this presentation, Dr. Kevin Thompson presents a case study of an Agile hardware transformation at Thermo Fisher Scientific. The session examines the challenges of applying Scrum in a complex hardware engineering environment, the organizational changes that were made, and the lessons learned throughout the transformation. Particular attention is given to the differences between software and hardware development, the role of technical leadership, and why hardware organizations often require adaptations to standard Agile practices. Attendees will gain practical insights into how Agile principles can be successfully applied in multidisciplinary hardware-development organizations, along with ideas they can adapt within their own engineering environments. Whether your organization develops hardware, software, or integrated systems, this case study illustrates how adapting Agile practices to the realities of the work can significantly improve engineering effectiveness. Speaker Biography Kevin Thompson, Ph.D. (https://kevinthompsonphd.com/) is an Agile transformation consultant, trainer, and author specializing in hardware and multidisciplinary product development. He has led Agile consulting and organizational transformation initiatives for more than 100 engineering organizations worldwide, helping companies improve delivery predictability, reduce late-stage surprises, and strengthen cross-functional coordination. Kevin's experience spans robotics, biotechnology, telecommunications, aerospace, instrumentation, and other complex engineering industries. His work focuses on adapting Agile methods to the unique realities of hardware development, where engineering specialization, long lead-time components, and system integration present challenges not typically encountered in software projects. He is the author of Solutions for Agile Governance in the Enterprise (https://www.amazon.com/Solutions-Agile-Governance-Enterprise-SAGE/dp/0578420589), which presents an approach to Agile governance centered on improving organizational decision-making and reducing technical risk. Kevin holds a Ph.D. in Physics and provides consulting and executive education on Agile product development, Release Planning, and engineering process improvement.