Our Approach to Customer Communication: From Kickoff to Delivery
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
Great simulated avionics don’t happen by accident—they happen when everyone stays aligned from day one. At Simtek, we treat customer communication as part of the product. The clearer the alignment, the smoother the build, the faster the integration, and the fewer surprises late in the program.
That’s why we lean on a structured communication rhythm built around key milestones like:
TKO (Technical Kickoff),
PDR (Preliminary Design Review), and
CDR (Critical Design Review).
Why Structured Communication Matters
Simulation programs move fast, and small misunderstandings can become big delays—wrong interfaces, mismatched expectations, or acceptance criteria that change midstream. A disciplined review cadence helps us lock in the fundamentals early and verify the details before production ramps.
The result:
Fewer change orders
Clearer acceptance criteria
Better schedule predictability
Faster integration and troubleshooting
TKO: Start Aligned, Stay Aligned
The Technical Kickoff is where we get the whole team pointed at the same target. We confirm the “why” behind the build, the “what” of requirements, and the “how” of execution.
Typical TKO alignment includes:
Scope and success criteria
Interfaces and integration expectations
Key risks, unknowns, and long-lead items
Communication paths and response cadence
Documentation expectations and data needs
TKO is where we prevent “assumptions” from becoming expensive.
PDR: Confirm the Direction Before We Commit
The Preliminary Design Review is our checkpoint that the proposed design approach meets the customer’s intent before we lock down too many details.
At PDR we focus on:
Requirements traceability (what we’re building and why)
Early design concepts and architecture
Mechanical/electrical integration plan
Test approach and verification strategy
Open items and risk burn-down plan
PDR ensures we’re not just moving fast—we’re moving correctly.
CDR: Lock the Design, Protect the Schedule
The Critical Design Review is where the design is mature enough to proceed confidently into build and production. This is the “final alignment” moment before execution accelerates.
CDR typically confirms:
Finalized design details and interfaces
Build readiness (documentation, drawings, BOMs as applicable)
Verification/acceptance plan alignment
Configuration control expectations
Clear next steps toward manufacturing and delivery
CDR protects schedule by reducing late-cycle surprises.
Communication Beyond the Milestones
TKO, PDR, and CDR are anchors—but day-to-day communication matters too. We emphasize:
Fast, direct access to the right people
Clear action items and ownership
Transparent risk and issue tracking
Documentation that keeps everyone on the same page
We don’t want communication to be “status updates.” We want it to be momentum.
Simtek’s Goal: No Surprises—Just Progress
Our customers count on us to deliver accurate, durable simulated avionics that integrate smoothly and support training uptime. A disciplined communication structure—built around TKO, PDR, and CDR—helps ensure we deliver exactly what’s needed, on a timeline everyone can trust.
If you’re looking for a simulation partner that communicates clearly, executes predictably, and treats alignment as mission-critical—Simtek is ready to help.
