Light10 brings deep experience in technical leadership, hands-on cutting edge engineering skills, and expertise in biomedical optics and electromechanical devices.
We love to make cool things and have fun doing it. Every project is an opportunity to improve our craft, create new connections, educate and learn from our peers, and most importantly, positively impact our world.
When you partner with Light10, we will cater to your specific design, development, and team resource needs. We believe crystal clear communication is the #1 asset for speed, efficiency, and to ensure overall success in the pursuit of all our technical projects. This approach creates happiness, excitement and motivation as systems are brought from concept to design to reality.
Light10 was founded by Max Kotlarchyk, a Ph.D. Biomedical Engineer with strong background in automated light-based optical systems. Max has worked with teams and companies of all sizes to provide clinical access to some of the most technically demanding systems.
The
Approach
Agility
We deliver the necessary snappiness and flexibility in our development process to meet our clients demands.
Light10 works closely with clients in a dynamic environment. New information is often revealed mid-stream. This may be in the form of a changing market need or simply an unexpected third party delay. Our process allows for lean operation, pivoting as required all along the way. Large project goals are typically broken into manageable bites which are frequently testing, documented, and reviewed. This keeps team members up to date, while minimizing any potential delays.
Synergy
Leveraging opportunities for synergies at both the team and design level is key to sky rocket project performance. This is the 1+1 = 3 effect. At the team level, pairing members with complimentary skill sets, work styles or perspectives can accelerate development. Additionally, we work directly with a strong network of 3rd party vendors that truly understand the benefit of having a mutually beneficial relationship.
At the design level, big picture system-level design with attention to detail often reveals opportunities to reduce cost, improve performance, minimize risk, and increase development speed.
Purpose
By establishing a clear vision of project outcomes, we can increase of likelihood of meeting our goals with directed practice.
We work hard with clients to crystalize the vision of their product at the early stages with full team buy in.
With this "goal-oriented" emphasis, surprises are minimized, progress is tangible, and clients get the most "bang for their buck."
Planning
As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!"
This is related to our goal and purpose oriented mentality. Planning is at the heart of our success and communication over the course of executing a project. By planning for both the expected and unexpected over a timeline we can predict the scope, budget and resources needed for undertakings of any size and complexity.
Our team makes use of software tools which help us make project plans using information from conversations with our clients. These tools allow for succinct communication across platforms and team members over the duration of any project.
Education
Team education is a never-ending process and is a requirement to operate at fullest potential. Most projects require an initial phase of "knowledge transfer" in which the client establishes the starting data basis for the project and assumptions can be solidified. Projects can start from an idea, published technology, prototype or even a full blown product.
The learning process continues over the course of the project as hypothesis are tested in simulation, in the workshop, in a lab, or even a discussion with a vendor. We continually keep our skills and knowledge fresh with the latest technologies, manufacturing processes, and regulations.
Organization
Organizing and establishing the team's roles and responsibilities is essential for effective communication and project execution of any task. Without proper attention from the start, it is easy to lose efficiency and a sense of team cohesiveness, through redundant work or misleading direction. Appropriately delegating decision power, work, and expectations without ambiguity can create synergy amongst team members rather than a slow bureaucracy. A well organized team communicates well, is lean, and does not hesitate to support one another in their pursuing their ambitious goals.
Light10 will work with you to establish a team which is destined for success from the start.
Fluidity
At Light10, we operate like a lean startup with purpose directed solely towards our client's goals. Our partners request that we operate with speed and efficiency for best use of their time and dollars spent. In order to meet these needs we have to be mobile, fluid, and quick on our feet as we rapidly absorb new information over the course of new projects.
Changes may occur in the shape of changing market-demands, new strategies from our client, as well as unforeseen challenges. We will execute on important minute engineering details while keeping the big system picture in mind. One of our strengths is the ability to rapidly adapt and pivot to meet your project goals as quick as possible without compromising quality.
Connection
At Light10, we create our best possible products when we are completely tuned in and connected with all the dynamic factors that surround us everyday. We are linked to: (i) our clients who hire us, (ii) our internal staff and subcontractors, (iii) our external vendors and manufacturers, (iv) consumers who dictate market requirements, (iv) FDA and international entities, and even (v) the environment and workers who may be impacted by the creation our product.
Strong communication channels and relationships enhance the clarity and effectiveness of these networks, and add clarity to our focused efforts. We remind ourselves, behind everything we interact with, is a living and breathing human being.
Memory
We often need the ability to "trace" the steps back through a documentation chain to prove that we built what you intended to. This is particularly important for medical devices which we need to ensure are safe, effective, and reliable.
However, we are generally talking about our ability to remember "what we did and why we did it." Over multiple months of development, no matter what the complexity, this information can get muddled, highlighting the importance of effective documentation. We strive to hit the sweet spot, where documentation serves as an tool to make us operate better, rather than being seen as a burden.
We document all projects to ensure that we are compliant with ISO 13485 medical device standards.
Reflection
We believe that everything we do is also an opportunity for learning and self-improvement. Although there is no such thing as perfection, at Light10, we can always strive to accomplish that goal.
As is common in software development practice, we sub-divide our major milestones into tangible "sprints." Frequent reflection on how well we were able to accomplish our tasks allows for continuous improvement in our work, relationships with each other, as well as transparency over the duration of a project.