Jaskaran Dhiman: Expert Take On Leveraging Agile Tools Like JIRA For Manufacturing Process Optimization

In high-stakes sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, speed, precision, and coordination are not optional—they are critical. As product lifecycles shrink and global teams collaborate across time zones, the need for leaner, smarter operational tools has never been more urgent. Enterprise Agile planning platforms like Jira, once considered the domain of software teams, are increasingly making their mark in engineering and manufacturing environments. These tools, when strategically deployed, can bridge the gap between R&D and operations, turning chaotic build plans and fragmented documentation into a unified digital thread.

Jaskaran Dhiman has been actively involved in this evolution. Starting out as a user of Jira at K&S four years ago, he quickly recognized its potential to improve workflows beyond its typical software-centric use. “When I first used Jira, I saw more than just ticketing, it was a way to bring clarity to complex build environments,” he shares. In 2023, he was officially named Jira Administrator for the Advanced Systems Business Unit's NPI-Operations group, a role that recognized both his technical fluency and his ability to lead cross-functional change. His work has influenced how teams access, manage, and act on critical product information in fast-paced manufacturing settings.

His work draws on his experience bridging R&D and Manufacturing, a vantage point that allows him to lead with both agility and precision. By consolidating tasks, fixtures, and status updates into Jira workflows, he eliminated the previous reliance on deeply nested shared drives. “We moved from scattered Excel trackers to a centralized, real-time system,” he explains. This change improved coordination for geographically dispersed teams, particularly benefiting internal customers in Singapore who now had instant visibility into build plans, latest technical documents and resource needs for manufacturing.

One of the achievements was during the ramp-up phase of the new machine platform, where speed was very crucial. He implemented a real-time machine build plan using Jira and Confluence, aligning engineering and manufacturing operations around a single source of truth. This approach refined document access and helped team in transition seamlessly from prototype to production, ensuring operational readiness and minimizing delays.

By introducing workload analytics and burndown charts, Jaskaran leadership to make informed decisions about resource allocation. This real-time visibility helped reducing documentation backlog from around 100 to just 35 man-weeks, a significant efficiency gain that accelerated release cycles and improved throughput. “Seeing data in context helps teams act with confidence,” he notes.

Yet, the journey wasn’t without its hurdles. One of the early challenges Jaskaran faced was overcoming resistance to change. Many team members were accustomed to siloed tools and reluctant to adopt Agile methodologies. To bridge this gap, he led hands-on workshops and demonstrated benefits such as reduced setup times through bulk editing and automation. His persistence paid off, earning cross-functional buy-in and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

His approach focuses on using Jira beyond a standalone tool. “The real value lies in stitching together CAD, ERP, MES, and BOM systems into a unified digital thread,” he says. He views Jira as a foundation for such integration, one that can evolve into a lightweight PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) platform when paired with tools like Confluence and automation plugins. While he acknowledges the merits of other platforms like Smartsheet, Asana, Notion, and Microsoft Planner, he appreciates Jira’s deep customization capabilities. “It is flexible enough to mold to your process, but that same flexibility can be intimidating for new users. Luckily, the growing library of templates is helping flatten the learning curve.”

“Microsoft is gaining ground with Azure DevOps, Planner, and Project. With AI becoming more embedded in toolchains, I would not be surprised if they capture a significant market share,” he remarks. And the market is booming the global Enterprise Agile Planning Tools Market, valued at $1.84 billion in 2024, projected to hit $16.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 27.8% according to Business Research Insights.

As manufacturing continues to digitize, professionals like Jaskaran Dhiman demonstrates that tools traditionally used by software teams can also be effective when applied with clear vision and purpose. By blending agility with operational insight, he’s helping to develop a smarter, more connected future for manufacturing.