How FEW Automotive Group manages 120+ projects per year across 3 continents with a 5-phase gate review system and reduced project costs by 30%.
FEW Automotive Group carried out more than 120 projects annually for VW, Porsche, and Ferrari. However, without structured approval processes, each project became a shot in the dark.
No defined approvals: Projects went through phases without clear checkpoints. Who had approved them? Who was responsible? No one knew.
Delayed escalation: Problems only became apparent in the final phase. A single failed project cost €600,000.
Fragmented documentation: Project data scattered across Excel, email, PowerPoint. No central status, no audit trail.
We implemented a structured gate review system on Smartsheet, based on proven automotive standards (VDA 6.3, DAPQP, IATF 16949), but applicable across all industries.
5 phases from quotation to SOP. Each gate checks deliverables, KPIs, risks, and budget. Maturity-complexity assessment across 5 dimensions.
Smartsheet forms for standardized gate evaluations. Automatic health indicators. Escalation for unmet criteria.
Dashboard overview of all 120+ projects. Drill down from portfolio to individual project. Real-time reporting without PowerPoint.
“Smartsheet saves time, keeps track of information, and provides structure. These three things make it easier to deliver a good product. As a result, we have improved our customer satisfaction and loyalty by 90%.”
Reduction of project costs through early risk identification
Less administrative effort thanks to automated gate reviews
Portfolio transparency for all stakeholders.
What FEW Automotive Group has achieved is also possible for your company. Whether you have 10 or 500 projects, a structured gate review system prevents costly mistakes and speeds up your product launches. Let us take your approval process to a new level.
A gate review system is a structured project approval process in which projects must pass through defined phases (gates). At each gate, predefined criteria are checked, from feasibility to budget to quality. Only after successful review is the next phase approved.
A typical stage-gate process comprises five phases: (1) Quotation & Feasibility, (2) Planning & Design, (3) Prototyping & Validation, (4) Pre-Production, (5) SOP & Ramp-up. Each gate in between checks the maturity of the project using defined KPIs.
Gate review systems are suitable for all industries with complex projects and high quality requirements. They are particularly widespread in the automotive industry (VDA 6.3, IATF 16949), but medical technology, mechanical engineering, and the consumer goods industry also benefit from them.
Software alone does not solve problems. A tool like Smartsheet is powerful, but without the right architecture, it can quickly become confusing. We don't just provide the license, we provide the strategy. We translate your business goals into technical blueprints, train your teams, and ensure that the "execution gap" is permanently closed.
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