Cadence Free®: Superfast, Truly Agile Product Development

Break free from rigid R&D cycles. Use modular architectures, MobAI® and cascading Kanban to develop hardware and software at Tesla-like speed.

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Cadence Free® is a registered trademark. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence. You are free to share (copy, redistribute) and adapt (remix, transform, build upon) this material for any purpose, even commercially, under the following terms:

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Cadence Free® Definition

Cadence Free® is a modular product development approach that removes the need for synchronized, milestone-driven release cycles. Instead of waiting for hardware and software to align on a single cadence, each module of the system—whether mechanical, electrical, or digital—can evolve, improve, and release independently as long as its interface contract remains stable. This creates continuous flow across the entire product line and enables rapid iteration without the bottlenecks of traditional R&D schedules.

By combining modular architecture, cascading Kanban (JusticeBoard), and AI-assisted decision-making with MobAI®, Cadence Free® transforms product development into a flexible, data-driven system. Organizations gain faster releases, reduced risk, and better financial efficiency by investing in the modules that deliver the highest impact.

What is Cadence Free®?

Cadence Free® is a way of working that lets you release independent modules continuously, instead of synchronizing everything into a single, rigid cadence.

It combines:

  • Modular system architecture with clear, forward/backward-compatible interfaces
  • Value-stream aligned, cascading Kanban boards (JusticeBoard) across portfolio, modules, and sub-modules
  • MobAI® for Teams – AI-assisted design, simulation, scheduling, and decision support
  • Financial efficiency tracking that links every module’s improvement to cost and business value

Instead of “project cadences,” you get continuous flow of improvements across your product line – including hardware.

Read our Cadence Free Whitepaper here.

How it works

Cadence Free® starts with modular, forward-compatible architecture. Each product is broken into independent modules with clear interface contracts, allowing hardware and software to evolve separately and release whenever they're ready.

These modules are coordinated through JusticeBoard, a cascading Kanban system that connects portfolio goals with module-level work. Each module team manages its own flow and release rhythm, enabling continuous progress without waiting for big milestone cycles.

MobAI® accelerates the entire process by helping teams simulate options, compare designs, and make faster decisions. With clear KPIs and AI-assisted insights, organizations can improve modules continuously while investing in the areas with the highest impact.

Who is Cadence Free® for?

  • Established manufacturers (electronics, automotive, industrial, telecom, medical devices, etc.)
  • Companies with significant embedded software + hardware complexity
  • Organizations stuck in milestone-driven R&D but investing heavily in automation, digitalization, or AI
  • Leaders who need to compete with companies like Tesla and SpaceX on speed and adaptability, not just cost

From Multi-Year Cycles to Continuous Releases

Outcomes you can expect:

  • Dramatically shorter cycle times – move from yearly releases to quarterly, weekly, or even multiple releases per day in some modules
  • Decoupled hardware and software – release new software without waiting for hardware, and vice versa
  • Reduced risk – smaller, independent module bets instead of single, massive projects
  • Lower testing overhead – clear interfaces and modular architecture reduce combinatorial explosion
  • New business models – product-as-a-service and extended lifecycle through software updates
  • Better governance – decisions based on real module progress, not arbitrary dates

How We Help You Go Cadence Free®

Based on real transformations in semiconductor and manufacturing organizations, the path includes:

  • Agile Hardware Assessment
    Map value streams, modules, and current iteration/synchronization patterns
  • System & Interface Design
    Redesign architecture toward independently iterating modules
  • JusticeBoard & Kanban Setup
    Introduce cascading Kanban boards from portfolio to parts
  • MobAI® for Teams Enablement
    Integrate AI tools into analysis, simulation, and decision-making
  • Weekly & Daily Sync Routines
    Introduce light-weight weekly and daily syncs around Kanban boards for teams and management
  • Coaching & Continuous Optimization Optimize cycle times, dependency handling, and organizational learning

Go Cadence Free

Ready to move beyond slow, milestone-driven development? Schedule a Cadence Free® discovery call and uncover how continuous modular releases and AI-assisted workflows can unlock speed, clarity, and measurable business impact.

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