TOWARDS A FLEXIBLE INNOVATION PROCESS MODEL ASSURING QUALITY AND CUSTOMER NEEDS

• Louis Louw Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Corne Schutte Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Christian Seidel Fraunhofer Research Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology, IGCV, Augsburg, Germany
• Christian Imser Fraunhofer Research Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology, IGCV, Augsburg, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/29-1-1911

Keywords:

innovation, innovation model, innovation management

Abstract

Successful innovation projects require an adequate innovation management capability in organisations. This means a sufficiently rigorous, continuous, and goal-oriented management of innovation processes. The literature research demonstrates that an integrated innovation methodology requires highly qualitative processes that are both flexible and customer-specific in their design. This work focuses on the FuGle® innovation process model, which is applied at the Industrial Engineering Department of Stellenbosch University. The enhanced FuGle® innovation process model presents flexible processes that are supported by methods and techniques that guide the user to drive innovation projects. This paper presents an innovation approach that enables organisations proactively to manage customer needs and trends. Thus the enhanced FuGle® innovation process model aims to turn an innovation project into a marketable product.