Product innovation alone is no longer sufficient; long term success now comes from breakthrough business innovation across your whole manufacturing business.
Innovation is demonstrably beneficial to business performance. Although innovation is perceived as key to the future, companies are faced with significant challenges in that: there is no direct link between perceived innovativeness and single metrics such as patents granted; R&D spending alone does not guarantee the advantages of innovativeness; and product innovation is no longer seen as sufficient, as sucessful companies exploit all key areas of innovation:
- product innovation in products and services
- innovation in business models and organisations
- new channels to market, new customer segments and experience, as well as brand extension.
To exploit value from innovation, four principles are key:
- Set strategic direction for innovation
- Provide appropriate resources and capabilities
- Ensure effective processes and infrastructure
- Find smart ways to finance your innovations
PA can help you to successfully innovate your business by:
- identifying business innovation ideas and building a strong innovation portfolio
- developing and implementing innovative business models and supply chains
- implementing strong innovation processes focusing on pushing through value creating opportunities
- building a sustainable innovation culture and organisation
- developing and designing value adding products and services and best in class production processes.
PA uniquely provides the necessary capabilities to foster innovation
Industry insights
Our consultants have deep knowledge across manufacturing industries including automotive, process and chemicals, consumer products, aerospace and engineering.
Technology capabilities
Breakthrough innovation requires the fusion of market need, technology and capability. This fusion does not happen naturally; it often conflicts with the model of incremental development in existing day-to-day business activities. A diverse input and a structured approach are required.
By using creativity workshops and working with multi-functional teams right across and beyond the business, ignited by our external stimulus, companies have discovered innovative ideas beyond their expectations.
The design studio concept is one of PA's approaches to deliver business and manufacturing innovation both better and faster.
Consulting services
PA's expert services include strategy development, organisational and process design, R&D management, change and programme management, IT management and product and process design and development.
PA successfully creates its own ventures
New business innovations need to reach the market rapidly. This may be possible within the existing organisation, but may require the incubation of a new venture or strategic collaboration with suitable partners. PA has helped many clients to develop the right approach, to scale up their ideas and transition to the new business model. We have ourselves successfully incubated new venture companies - mobile communications leader UbiNetics was spun-off from PA - so we do practise what we preach. Other ventures include Cubiks, Aegate, Meridica and ProcServe - further details here.
Sample case studies
IMI Vision - Developing an innovative solution to emissions regulations for heavy diesel engines
Rotork Controls - Enhancing product and service innovation
Courage - Maintaining brand leadership through technical ‘widget’ innovation
Nissan - Optimising production scheduling to achieve the unthinkable
Novo Nordisk - Establishing a strategic innovation unit
A leading IT outsourcer - Implementing a new service delivery model to secure and build future revenue streams
PA has worked with major players in manufacturing industry and has won prestigious awards for designing and implementing business concepts. This enables PA to support your innovation initiation, generating exciting opportunities through to successful implementation of new businesses.
