Innovation in manufacturing

This paper reports on a series of group discussions with manufacturing managers in how to define, measure and improve innovation in a manufacturing context. A group of 65 manufacturing managers (vice-presidents, plant managers and manufacturing directors) was brought together and divided into seven small groups. Each of the small groups was given one of the following three questions: (1) How do you define innovation in manufacturing? (2) How do you measure innovation in manufacturing? or (3) How would you improve innovation in manufacturing? Nominal groups were utilized to ‘brainstorm’ answers to the appropriate questions in each small group. A framework for manufacturing innovation is developed from the data. The framework shows that manufacturing results are affected by the degree of innovation present in manufacturing and by various factors external to manufacturing and the firm. The degree of innovation, in turn is affected by several elements within manufacturing which can be managed by the firm (resources, structure, goals and culture). The framework which has been developed from these data can be used by managers and researchers alike to define, measure, and improve innovation in manufacturing.