Innovation and Invention

By Barry W. Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer, DVIRC

When we first heard the results of the Deloitte study on manufacturing in Pennsylvania and the emphasis on “innovation,” it was an obvious choice for most of us to jump to the conclusion that we needed to help our manufacturers create new and different products. And, in fact, the study did point to product innovation as a critical need for a healthy manufacturing future in Pennsylvania.

However, another key part of the findings identified the need to be more strategic and change. Change the way we think, the way we work and the products we produce. Be more innovative. We know you’re hearing this from us, and you’ll hear it from every business and government organization that’s in tune with manufacturing today. But what does it really mean to you?

Innovation is actually defined as something “new or unusual.” To “innovate” is to begin or introduce something new. To invent is to produce or devise the first – original. I feel this is a very important distinction. If you think that business innovation actually means that you have to be the one to invent a new idea or product, there will be very few of you who will feel they have the time or resources to do it. Nor do you need to be the one to invent an innovative idea in order to benefit from it!

Implement Innovation!
There are several ways to look at innovation within your business. First, the obvious: new products to new or exiting markets or existing products to new markets, revised products to existing markets. Second, look at the way you go to market. Should you be adding an Internet strategy for direct sales? Is catalog marketing an option? What if you could share a distribution network? Next, look at the way you work. Where are the inefficiencies in time and materials? Are your office and plant Lean?

What about HR? Can you afford to have your own HR department? How are you hiring? Do you know about workforce development initiatives that might help you find skilled workers and that you might have new employee search options? What are shared services? Do you know how to brand yourself?

Begin something new – take two to three hours and look at your business to see how you can implement innovation. We employ an entire team of business development representatives that spend all their time in the field helping manufacturers do just that – develop their businesses! Relationships with these representatives cost you nothing. They can help you identify the new business or process innovations that will help you grow your business.

Test Your Rate of “Innovation”
What were the last changes you implemented in your business? How often have you ‘introduced something new’ to improve your business? We asked ourselves the same question. What are you going to do next?