Innovation may be the most overused word in business today. However, the term never goes out of style and it is driving manufacturing today, faster than ever. In my travels and experiences visiting manufacturers around the world, it is obvious that the USA is a leader in innovation. There are many reasons why we perform so well, typical examples include high levels of education, high productivity rate, available low cost capital and a willingness to take risk. One of the most surprising reasons may be that because we have a strong social safety net, this background security allows the mind to reach out beyond what is considered the norm and innovate, without a real concern about the serious consequences of failure.
Don’t confuse innovation with invention. These are separate concepts and both have their place in the modern manufacturing business. Innovation and invention are interrelated terms. Innovation can be described as the use of a novel idea or method and invention would be the creation of the item or method. As an example, a company that develops a successful sales program that present the product line in a new way, would be considered innovative. Another example could be a production line that was modified to improve the efficiency and throughput. The innovation circle is endless, and this is the key to why the entire concept works so well. It is very important to measure the results and apply the concepts of continuous improvement. You cannot judge what you do not measure.
Manufacturing in the USA is doing well and growing, as we explore the reasons, innovation is wound though every department and person in manufacturing. I see innovation at work here in the USA because of our high education level and especially in the way we educate our students. The broad education experiences of our students allow them to pull from a multifaceted educational background. In many other countries the concentration of education in the specific field creates a narrowed focus. This myopic approach creates an environment where some problems are not easily solved. Difficult problems often need to be solved by a leap and cannot be solved pragmatically in a linear fashion.
Examples of innovation in the manufacturing workplace illustrate just how dynamic this type of work has become. Manufacturing is thriving because it is attracting the best and brightest, solving hard problems and providing products to the world. The Southwest Riverside County area is ripe for a dramatic increase to the number of manufacturers and expansion of the existing base. We have all the elements for this success, especially the most important one, the people who are willing to innovate.
The leader of an organization must be the innovation leader. If new ideas are brought to the manager and every time the ideas are quashed, the organization’s days are numbered. This theory can be applied to other aspects of the organization or even to a government. As a manager, we need to foster the innovation within the company, it will build on itself and if measured and methods of continuous improvement applied… success will be inevitable.
Roy Paulson has worked in manufacturing industry for over 30 years. Currently he is the President of Paulson Manufacturing in Temecula and Director of Paulson International in Germany. Participating in many national and local boards, he brings a broad experience to bear in his volunteer activities. He is currently serving on an advisory committee to the US Government, is on the World Trade Center Board of Directors and also has received Secret Clearance in National Security from the USG.