What do you do if your manufacturing business is falling behind due to lack of innovation?

If your manufacturing facility is falling behind because you are not embracing new technology or innovation it's likely because of the culture and people who are working in it. If you want to embrace and use technology that will make you more productive and attractive long term, hire a generation who isn't intimated by technology.

Most importantly have to revisit the strategy as innovation is a culture/mindset. First need to work with team on this and then implant SOP. Pro active follow up so that it stays in spotlight .

It really needs to start with a regular cadence of strategic planning that is constantly looking 1 year, 3 years, 5 years down the road. Having an open mind to all ideas, and having a culture that fosters personal growth, empowerment and creativity. It’s hard to play “catch up” if you fall behind when it comes to innovation.

Embark on a quest of revitalization by casting a discerning eye over your realm of manufacturing. Examine the sinews of your processes, the allure of your products, and your standing in the market's vast landscape. Question the age of your technologies and if your creations still enchant the ever-changing desires of your clientele. Identifying these realms in need of innovation could lead you down paths of new machinery, undiscovered materials, or redesigned products that resonate more profoundly with the market's heartbeat. This initial step of assessment is your map to uncharted territories of success.

Understand the challenges of innovation Identifying Common Barriers to innovation Recognizing the Importance of a Supportive Innovation Culture to drive Innovation Initiatives Overcoming Resistance to Change for Successful innovation. Fostering an Innovation Culture

Looking at some of the big brands that didn't move with the times I.e. blockbuster change is eneveritable. Understanding that change is a good thing and if you embrace it you will move forward and become a sustainable business.

Assess where your loses are coming from, time, quality? Costings? Sub contract process. If the issues are in house you have to be honest with yourself and push for change. Firstly look to make sure your process’ are correct, can methodology be changed/tweaked, operations be removed that aren’t necessary…one hit machining/done in one machining is a great way of saving time-not always possible, but reducing the number of operations will naturally increase output. Invest in better equipment-new machines may be the last resort. But before that, look and trial new tooling-speak to tool reps and see what they have to offer, don’t be set in your ways with how you tackle jobs and problems.

The innovation is a continuous little changes, doesn’t have to be a revolution. You must be aware of new technologies or new way of processing, You have to follow the path , preparing everything and everyone for the new opportunity. You always have to be ready ne to be ready , You have to stay informed with an eye of the market worldwide and not just in your Region or your Country . Stay informed and Your Comoany will never be in lack of innovation, if You don’t keep your eyes open , well … may be can be too late for the right changes.

If rate of demand is falling it means need to recheck our products.need to Research and development team to analyse the problem.

Be ready for changes.Embraces the changes and have a great attitude about the changes. Let them know the changes are for growth.growth means job stability and possible promotion

It's as simple as this: you have to have some allocation for R&D. You need to spend the resources to foster innovation. There's no way to catch up if you aren't taking those steps.

A lack of innovation in manufacturing can be a recipe for stagnation and decline. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reignite your company's creative spark and get back on the cutting edge. Here's a roadmap to consider, focusing on smart investments that maximize impact 1. Conduct a Thorough Innovation Audit 2. Foster a Culture of Innovation 3. Leverage Technology for Efficiency and New Possibilities 4. Open Innovation: Partnering for Success 5. Invest in Research and Development (R&D) Innovation is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. By prioritizing it, fostering a culture of creativity, and investing smartly, you can ensure your manufacturing business thrives in the face of ever-changing markets

Using training programs and courses with the help of experienced experts in the areas where you think your team is weak in it can be helpful.

First, employees must mentally prepare themselves to improve their technical level. On the other hand, employers should have a proper understanding of their staff, which motivates them.

The importance of technology in the manufacturing industry cannot be overemphasized. Continual improvements brings innovations and innovations (be it product or technological innovations) are fostered by automations and vertical integration projects. I am grateful for Industry 4.0!

Tech is the easy part. Most importantly, what problem are you solving and which tech delivers the most ROI? Especially, which supplier can you partner with to help you become better? Choose someone who has done it over and over, and ask to meet their customers.

The hype for artificial intelligence is currently high. As history teaches us, new technological advancements typically promote a general form of growth, enhancing the way we work and experience the world around us. This is especially true around the manufacturing industries, where not only AI, but robotics and in general optimization of workflow via new technology seem a viable solution for potential long-term ROI. However innovation, without proper communication and alignment with organizational culture, may cause degradation in terms of individual performance. Therefore leverage on new tech tools is one way to optimize cost and improve efficiency in the long run, but workforce upskilling needs to happen concurrently.

Try to identify similar industries where benchmarking can ignite that innovation spark. This would reduce the narrow focus that domain experts tend to have, as it switches their mindset into a learning path. It is astonishing what one can learn from industries that are far removed from one's domain of expertise.

Innovation often comes from collaboration. Look beyond the walls of your manufacturing plant and seek partnerships with suppliers, customers, and even competitors. Collaborating on research projects or sharing best practices can lead to breakthroughs that benefit all parties involved. Additionally, consider reaching out to universities or research institutions that can offer fresh insights and access to cutting-edge developments in your industry.

Be realistic, be humble, and look for your gaps. Get outside expertise to confirm your hypothesis and work together to make a plan. Then, the rest will follow.

It’s time to let go of what worked 10 years ago and see what if any changes can be made to inspire and grow innovation…..fluidity in this process is a must.

The greatest example of this culture I ever witnessed was at a company I was interviewing with. There was a firm policy in place where workers were allotted a set number of hours per week to pursue passion projects and big ideas. Not everyone can do that, but to be able to fuel an innovative culture is a great win for an organization.

Start by creating regular brainstorming sessions where employees feel free to share wild ideas. Equip them with resources like innovation workshops or design thinking platforms. Embrace technology by automating repetitive tasks, freeing up minds for problem-solving. Invest in R&D or collaborate with universities to explore new possibilities. Don't forget to celebrate innovation! Recognize and reward employees who contribute ideas, even if they don't pan out. Leadership buy-in is crucial – set clear goals for a more innovative future. Build a diverse team with a range of perspectives to spark a wider range of ideas. Finally, encourage calculated risks and experimentation – even failures can be valuable learning experiences.

Educate and Empower Employees Action: Train and empower employees at all levels to recognize inefficiencies and suggest improvements. This can be done through regular training sessions and open forums for sharing ideas. Purpose: Empowered employees are more likely to contribute to ongoing improvement efforts and help sustain a culture of Kaizen. #Empower #Training

Retire. If you haven’t watched the technology trend in your segment, then it’s your fault. You should always discuss and try, on a small scale, developments that might leverage your core competence, allow you to operate at scale, meet your customers’ needs,… If not, you’re a baby sitter.

If performance evaluations aren't identifying high potential employees, I would reassess the evaluation criteria to ensure they align with the organization's goals and values. Additionally, I might implement other methods such as 360-degree feedback, talent assessments, or talent calibration sessions to gain a more holistic view of employee potential. Regular discussions with managers and team members can also provide valuable insights into identifying high potential employees.

If an organization is falling behind in any of its functions due to a lack of innovation, I’ll consider looking at the workforce. A thriving innovative organization needs four distinct groups of people to maintain relevance - the pioneers (otherwise called innovators), drivers (implementers), integrators and guardians. The workforce needs to have a good mix of each of these groups to attain an appropriate balance of stability and innovation. Too many pioneers can lead to an impact on stability, and too little pioneers can lead to a loss of competitive edge. Another means to achieve this, if challenging with own workforce, is to ensure this is a key requirement with strategic partners i.e. suppliers, customers and partners.

Best Practices: One thing I find helpful is to think large scale strategically but action small. Allow all levels of the workforce to interact with the new technology to gain comfort and proficiency before completely inundating them with drastic change management responsibilities on top of their existing workload. I remember the first time I was introduced to robots years ago. I wasn’t allowed to touch it! So short sided and it went unrealized until the process designers became bored with their new toy and moved on. There was always a frustration each time they were called back to assist correcting problems because the operators and maintenance staff had never been exposed.

Hire highly floor experienced employees form different types of manufacturing industries and provide space to them to bring other industries technology to your process. This might be innovative in your business.