Innovation in the Operations

Abstract

Innovation, although not always expected of the operations teams, holds significant potential for cost reduction and for increase of the people’s development and contribution. However, promoting innovation in the operations is only recommended when the product reaches a certain level of quality and robustness. Promoting an innovative culture in the operations means that we expect every individual and every team to bring, in their area of responsibility, ideas for improvement which have added value. When innovation is not restricted to certain populations or disciplines, improvements in a variety of the operations different activities will flourish. Professional literature emphasizes the rising importance of innovation to companies’ competitiveness. In the following chapter we will describe several factors that affect innovation; initiation, adoption and implementation.