Driving Innovation in Product Design and Manufacturing Using 3D Printing
5. OVERCOMING INNOVATION BARRIERS IN THE LIME INDUSTRY
In old industries such as the Lime Industry, innovation can face many obstacles. Whether you are trying to lead an industry, create a new market or just do things differently, innovation is difficult. The following barriers are frequent and difficult to overcome:
� Short-term focus � Lack of time, resources or staff � Leadership expects payoff sooner than is realistic � Management incentives are not structured to reward innovation � Lack of a systematic innovation process � Belief that innovation is inherently risky 20
Within the Lime Industry, introducing a completely new solution capable of providing the desirable outcomes and simplifying user operation has not been easy. Even with the promise of many advantages, it hard to convince process-driven businesses to shift the old( but still working) shaft level indicator, to a completely new system. Even if it means simplifying and rewarding the workday of everybody in the plant, and giving a sense of modernity to an old industry such as the lime industry, the notion of IIoT was scaring many lime producers.
However, we are now seeing real deployed solutions and tangible benefits. Innovation is among the top priorities for the majority of the world’ s large companies. To minimize uncertainty and risk of innovation, it has been necessary to find the correct way to do it, lead, manage and create a strategic intention – one that is reliable and oriented to meet the planned goals. The necessity of innovation is now universally accepted, but beyond their enthusiasm for bright ideas, most leaders know that to be successful over the long term they must develop a strong innovation culture 21. In the Lime Industry – sedimentary no longer means sedentary.
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20
Overcoming the barriers to effective innovation. Loewe, Pierre and Dominiquini, Jennifer. 1, 2006, Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 34
21
Langdon, Morris. Creating Innovation Culture, InnovationLabs White Paper. 2007
- 52- January 2017