STEERPROP’S PROJECT

Pathmakers: Janne Martikainen and Jeremias Tilander

Steerprop is a propulsion design and manufacturing company with 70 employees, over half being engineers, focusing on assembly and testing rather than manufacturing. Small, agile, and customer-centric, they emphasize systems engineering to deeply understand client needs. Around 2.5 years ago, Steerprop identified an opportunity with a demanding customer in the maritime industry. Known for its rigorous requirements and need for seamless operations,  the customer posed challenges for many competitors, but Steerprop saw a strong alignment. 

Both companies shared a detail-oriented, technically adept approach, and the customer’s in-house engineers were well-acquainted with Steerprop’s capabilities. This understanding enabled a direct, collaborative relationship, allowing Steerprop to tailor propulsion systems precisely to the customer’s needs. Their close partnership facilitated adaptability and effective resource use, eliminating the need for intermediaries and emphasizing early involvement in projects to ensure better outcomes. In this project, the process took a unique turn from the usual approach. Typically, shipyards lead inquiries and request documentation, asking propulsion providers like Steerprop to present their offerings. However, this time, Steerprop became involved much earlier, directly shaping the client’s requirements for the shipyards. This early entry allowed Steerprop to refine technical details and shift the typical dynamics. A large shipyard ultimately selected Steerprop, recognizing their precise compliance with specifications. The customer, initially skeptical, requested a verification check. To their surprise, Steerprop had adhered so closely to the customer’s specifications that the project practically “sold itself,” requiring no further technical adjustments, with the customer needing only to provide final approval. The novelty of this approach was in reversing the standard process, allowing Steerprop to define project requirements from the outset. 

Key learnings from this collaboration include the importance of understanding all stakeholders who influence a project’s requirements. While the customer provided detailed specifications, Steerprop also explored other potential influencers. Early stakeholder mapping and a systems-engineering approach helped align project configurations, ensuring smooth collaboration. Additionally, considering the full system lifecycle – including logistics support and after-sales service – has paved the way for a long-term partnership, potentially lasting over 30 years.

This process highlights the importance of putting customer-centricity into practice by using a systems-engineering approach: consider needs at different levels and explore the full life cycle. Mapping stakeholders and technologies early on supports meaningful and impactful collaborations and can save both time and money later.