Post on 17-Dec-2015
Innovations of Industrial Workers
Abhijit RoyCINE
21.02.2009
Shop Floor – Source of physical labor or Continuous innovation? Innovation only in R&D lab? Shop floor - one of the major source of
innovation Exploring shop floor innovations and
integrating them with company’s long term strategy
lead to long term sustained competitive advantage
Source of innovative ideas
http://www.killerinnovations.com/blog/reblog/2006/06/
Share of innovative ideas among employees
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?contentType=Article&Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0680070104.html
Obstacles to corporate innovation efforts
http://www.killerinnovations.com/blog/reblog/2006/06/
Barriers to tap shop floor innovation
Lack of sharing Generation gap – New age workers vs. old
age workers Rigid hierarchy Language barrier
Lack of corporate culture Dependency on latest technology Dependency on external consultants? Lack of investment
Importance of promoting Shop floor innovation Cost saving Proper utilization of limited resources Developing a harmonious corporate culture
and promoting team spirit Drives culture of innovation Improving productivity and process quality Develop a sense of ownership among
workers – more invovlement
Some corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation Philips Electronics Company
New form of organizational structure to promote innovations from shop-floor workers
Mini-company concept at Roermond factory in The Netherlands
Product made in the factory - Ceramic multilayer actuators, an important device for inkjet printers
Rapid increase in demand for the product Dynamic nature of market - Short time-to-market, high
flexibility and tough competition Close co-operation with the customer on product
development
Source: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0440100709.html
Philips – Contribution of Mini-Companies to Improvements/Innovations
Source: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0140310305.html
Corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation Tata Steel
Knowledge Manthan to promote innovations “Aspire knowledge Manthan” launched in
March, 2004 to capture tacit knowledge present in the shop floor and promoting sharing of the same with others
Mainly for non-IT literate workers Workers will know best practices avilable in
the organization itself
Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/management/1081362-1.html
Corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation I/N Tek, JV of Inland Steel and Nippon Steel
in Indiana Transformation of cold rolling steel process
into a continuous process Lot of time saved – from 12 working days to
10 minutes from start to finish Unleashed collective intelligence of shop floor
workers
Source: http://creativeclass.com/rfcgdb/articles/When_lacocca_balked.pdf
Corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation Honda
Automotive assembly complex at Ohio Value shop floor workers knowledge due to
their hands-on knowledge Managers need to compulsorily listen to
workers points and implement them
Source: http://creativeclass.com/rfcgdb/articles/When_lacocca_balked.pdf
Corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation – Indian Experiences Indian Oil
Workers involvement widened after implementation of Kaizen in refineries
One Point Lesson (OPL) scheme was promoted to tap workers subsist innovation
Proper recognition – good monetary incentive, best staff award etc
BHEL Standing meeting to encourage sharing innovations of
shop-floor workers Encouraged sharing of ideas among shop floor
workers
Corporate initiatives to explore shop floor innovation TATA Group
Tata Group Innovation Forum to promote innovation – to explore different ideas and to explore lessons
Suggestion schemes NTPC
Frequent workshops Suggestion schemes
Recommendations to promote innovation Proper utilization of suggestion scheme
system Close interaction between executives and
workers Recognition More exposure to latest technologies and
systems Investment on human capital particularly shop
floor workers is need of the hour
Contd…
Recommendations to promote innovation Meeting presided by shop floor worker at shop floor
itself Showing respect Giving recognition for his work Encouraging sharing of information
Presentations by shop floor workers at the workshops to the management executives Sharing knowledge inputs Honing skills of presentation
Informal meeting between executives and workers