Wipro’s Software Factory Model October 3, 2007
Posted by Saravanan in Programming, Technology.add a comment
While commuting to office, I noticed that Wipro is developing software factory model which will improve their delivery model. This made to think how well a factory model will fit in software development where human skill makes the difference. This is an experimental model based on Toyota Manufacturing Model.
Software factory is all about about assembling components (or plugins) to incrementaly build the application. This suits good for a product development platform.
How Wipro can leverage this for the services they offer? My guess is
1. Wipro is not building the components which will help in assembling.
2. Wipro’s process maturity will ensure the quality of product. The vast knowledge of Wipro’s large talent pool has to be documented, developed as a process to apply them in their delivery model
3. Any average engineer by following the processes rigidly can ensure the consistent quality.
How this will impact the people
1. Organizations with robust factory model need not always recruit the best guy and pay more. Any average guy who follows the process will be sufficient.
2. Opens the gate for average people and keeps the attrition in check. People skill will become commodity and might be referred as as Software Assembler 
3. Engineers who build the components for assembling and who document the knowledge base and converts them as the software process will be in great demand.
As usual Wipro has shown great business acumen in adopting this approach. We need to wait and watch how this fits in Wipro’s delivery model.
