Hardware Planning Built for Hardware Constraints
Hardware projects have physical constraints, supplier dependencies, and cross-functional coordination that software tools pretend don't exist.
Start with your goal. Map dependencies. Generate stakeholder presentations and execution-ready exports. One tool, built for how hardware teams actually work.
Hardware planning deserves tools built for hardware.
Your electrical timeline depends on your mechanical timeline. Your supplier lead times determine your design freeze. Current tools ignore these constraints. This is what it costs:
87%
of hardware projects experience delays due to inadequate planning
15-40
hours engineering leaders waste on manual planning per project
$100k+
typical cost of hardware project delays and rework
67%
of executives cannot understand complex technical project plans
Critical Path Blindness
As dependencies multiply, identifying the critical path becomes increasingly difficult.
Communication Barriers
Engineers need dependency details. Executives need timeline clarity. No tool shows both without manual reformatting.
Resource Planning Gaps
Without critical path clarity, resource estimates are guesswork. Build vs. buy decisions get made during execution when it’s too late.
Critical Path Blindness
As dependencies multiply, identifying the critical path becomes increasingly difficult.
Communication Barriers
Engineers need dependency details. Executives need timeline clarity. No tool shows both without manual reformatting.
Resource Planning Gaps
Without critical path clarity, resource estimates are guesswork. Build vs. buy decisions get made during execution when it’s too late.
Why current approaches fail
Traditional Planning Approach
Most hardware teams discover critical issues only during execution when changes are most expensive. This approach leads to costly rework, missed deadlines, and team burnout.
Iterative Planning Approach
Traditional Planning Approach
Iterative Planning Approach
Most hardware teams discover critical issues only during execution when changes are most expensive. This approach leads to costly rework, missed deadlines, and team burnout.
Plan the way you think, present the way they need
Map dependencies naturally on a digital whiteboard and let Soufflé handle the rest—from critical path analysis to stakeholder-ready Gantt charts and CSV exports.
Right-to-Left Planning
Start with your goal and work backward. Critical path emerges naturally, not through guesswork.
Digital Whiteboard
Flexible canvas for mapping dependencies and connecting your work flow.
Critical Path Analysis
Automatic identification of timeline-critical dependencies that impact project completion.
Export Generator
Export customized views as presentation-ready images or CSV files for execution tools.
Our 5-Step Planning Process
Goal Definition
Define what success looks like before planning how to get there. Every task connects back to this foundation
Dependency & Resource Mapping
Map tasks, groups, and milestones on the digital whiteboard. Connect dependencies and add time estimates. Soufflé calculates your timeline automatically.
Critical Path Analysis & Checks
Soufflé automatically identifies your critical path and validates the dependency mapping. No planning gaps or disconnected tasks.
Automatic Gantt Chart Generation
Your dependency map automatically becomes a Gantt chart. Filter by milestones, groups, or critical paths to review from any angle.
Presentation-Ready Export Options
Choose what to show: specific milestones, critical paths, or task groups. Export as images for presentations or CSV with full dependency data for execution tools.
Product Screenshot for Goal Definition
Product Screenshot for Goal Definition
What makes Soufflé different
Most planning tools adapt software project workflows to hardware. Soufflé is built to address the constraints hardware teams face.
Critical Path-Based Timelines
Calculate realistic project durations based on critical path analysis rather than the guesswork that plagues complex hardware development.
Build vs. Buy decision support
Visualize dependencies to optimize which components to develop in-house versus purchase externally—essential for hardware supply chains.
Built-in quality assurance
Prevent the costly mistakes common in hardware planning with automated checks for disconnected nodes and missing dependencies.
Stakeholder communication
Generate presentation-ready images that clearly communicate complex project plans to executives, investors, and team members.
Execution tool integration
Export your plans directly to execution tools with CSV files that maintain all your mapped dependencies.
Version history tracking
Compare plan iterations as feedback shapes your approach. Track how your plan evolved throughout development.
Critical Path-Based Timelines
Calculate realistic project durations based on critical path analysis.
Build vs. Buy decision support
Visualize dependencies to optimize which components to develop in-house versus purchase externally.
Built-in quality assurance
Prevent the costly mistakes common in hardware planning with automated checks for disconnected nodes and missing dependencies.
Stakeholder communication
Generate presentation-ready images that clearly communicate complex project plans to executives, investors, and team members.
Execution tool integration
Export your plans directly to execution tools with CSV files that maintain all your mapped dependencies.
Version history tracking
Compare plan iterations as feedback shapes your approach. Track how your plan evolved throughout development.
Simple, predictable pricing
When executive time is your most precious
ingredient, planning should be light and effective.
Soufflé Project Plan
For unlimited projects, archives, and exports
Soufflé is currently in Beta. Help shape the product and lock in early adopter rates.
Everything included:
Right-to-left planning methodologyUnlimited dependencies and milestonesAutomatic critical path analysisStakeholder-friendly Gantt chartsCSV exports for execution toolsVersion tracking for plan iterationsEmail supportRegular product updatesReady to plan your next hardware project?
For hardware teams building products that matter. Try free for two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Soufflé different from Microsoft Project or SmartSheet?
How long does it take to implement Soufflé?
Do I need IT support to use Soufflé?
Is there a limit to how complex my project can be?
Can Soufflé work for my specific hardware product?
Is Soufflé a project management tool?
Why doesn't Souffle offer collaboration features?
We're here to help.
Questions about how Soufflé works for your specific hardware project?
Get in touch with us via email at souffle@breadboardfoundry.com
