Radical New Concept: “ReadyFireSteer”

Couple of years ago I was watching a video on YouTube showing footage shot from an attack helicopter. The voiceover explained how the rocket was fired at the same time the target was framed, and the on board computer guided the round to the target.

About the same time I saw a small news item in the Industry Monitor column by Otis Port from a couple of years ago, titled “A Drill That Can Think As It Makes A Hole.”

Quoting from the piece, “Unova Inc.’s Lamb Technicon Machining Systems in Warren, Mich. will introduce a new drilling system…with computer controls that are built into the boring tool itself. The new control system doesn’t need fixtures. Instead it uses piezoelectric sensors and a laser-guidance system to keep the drill aligned with the part…10 time faster than a hummingbird’s wings the controls can make 100 adjustments every second.”

Pretty impressive. But the real significance is the new technology’s recognition that yesterday’s technology was cumbersome and slow, and by the time the drill was only partway into the hole it was too late to do anything but stop the drilling.

Over the years there’s been much use of the criticism of “Ready Fire…AIM” as evidence of reckless, impulsive behavior.

Actually that’s exactly the way today’s world needs to function. Just weeks ago there was an article in WSJ about the “new” strategy that has little or no use for a long range plan. That all of the variables in any industry’s situation are so fluid and unpredictable that smart strategy must be able to respond to change as change surfaces.

So I’ve invented a new term that places Ready, Aim…Fire” on the musty shelves of business history: “Ready, Fire…STEER” is not only now entirely possible, it is indeed a critical imperative.