Pharmia, a manufacturer of dietary supplements and medical devices, has been using Thinking Portfolio’s New Product Development portfolio for a year. The portfolio has brought transparency to product development schedules and the innovation process.
At Pharmia, Thinking Portfolio’s Project Portfolio has been configured to include product development projects, effectively serving as an NPD (New Product Development) portfolio. In the daily operations at Pharmia, the portfolio is fondly referred to by its nickname, “Tipi.”
Johanna Kainurinne, Product Development Director, explains that just over a year ago, Pharmia had not yet defined its innovation process, and product development was managed using Excel-based tools.
“The most challenging part was keeping track of schedules. We lacked an overview of the big picture—how long projects had been running, when they were expected to be completed, and when, for example, a product launch was scheduled. There were plenty of assignments, but no visibility into what was coming from each category in the following year,” Johanna describes.
As part of the launch of the new innovation process, a portfolio tool was acquired to support the developed process, enhance transparency, and facilitate data-driven management. Johanna had already heard positive feedback about Thinking Portfolio beforehand.
“I’ve encountered a variety of project tools during my career, and when I got to know Thinking Portfolio, I saw that it is user-friendly and clear. Additionally, the tool’s adaptability to our needs is an excellent feature.”
The implementation was facilitated by involving people from multiple teams in the tool’s configuration. This approach ensured that team members from different areas were engaged right from the start. Currently, the portfolio is used by product development and sales. Next, the procurement team is expected to adopt the tool. The aim is to expand “Tipi’s” usage to include areas such as resource planning and the ideation process.
“Thinking Portfolio provided an easy-to-use and fast tool, and there’s no need to wait for updates—the data is updated instantly.”
The portfolio has significantly improved transparency. It now provides an overview of the number of projects and schedules for the upcoming year, as well as, for example, risk assessments related to products. Basic documentation requirements have been defined within the portfolio, ensuring they are managed appropriately.
“Ideas and requests no longer get stuck in anyone’s email but instead find their way into the portfolio. The information is just one click away for everyone,” Johanna says.
“The portfolio has brought a tremendous amount of value. It has been widely praised, even by the management team and the board. I absolutely recommend it to others!”
Reporting on Pharmia’s portfolio management development:
Johanna Kainurinne
Product Development Director
