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Hängeregister mit Unternehmenslogos auf den Reitern

REFERENCES

Logos von Industrieunternehmen und Technologieunternehmen als Übersicht der Referenzen der Innovationsberatung TOM SPIKE
Digitales Dashboard und Bagger als Symbol für Digitalinnovation in Baumaschinen - TOM SPIKE

Construction Machinery – IIoT looking for Application

Starting Point

A new, digital solution has been devised. Use cases and business model are still to be found. The management is not yet convinced.

Approach

Fixing the most important future topics of the industry together with management, suppliers and customers. Several day focus workshop across the business ecosystem.

Result

Prioritized fields of innovation for the digital future of the industry. Implementation plan and approved budgets for market-driven innovation with ecosystem cooperation.

Verschraubung an Flugzeugturbine - TOM SPIKE Structured innovation

Joining Technology – Finding new Business Areas

Starting Point

Finding new business fields has already failed once: A lack of systematics and free “green field thinking” did not lead to new ideas.

Approach

Guided search process with systematic delimitation of relevant markets. Leaving the comfort zone and starting open-ended 1-to-1 discussions in the target industries.

Result

New contacts and cooperation partners in several industries. Customer needs and specific ideas for product innovations close to existing core competencies.

Bauarbeiter auf Baugerüst - TOM SPIKE Structured innovation

Scaffolding & Concrete – Corporate Innovation

Starting Point

Employees should place innovative ideas and receive internal support. Commitment and understanding from key stakeholders and executives is still pending.

Approach

Joint walkthrough of the innovation process in an international fast-track setup. Focus on the future of the industry, threat scenarios and solutions.

Result

Full understanding and commitment of all multipliers and managers. Specific product ideas and concepts for in-house innovation cooperation.

Industrie-Luftfilter als Referenz für Innovationsprojekt - TOM SPIKE

Industrial Filters – Performance up – Cost Down

Starting Point

An established industrial air filter design for filtering and dedusting has cost and quality problems. Previous optimizations where unsuccessful.

Approach

As-is-Assessment, inventive problem solving workshop and direct feasibility evaluations of the developed concepts within few days.

Result

Just under 50% increased filter performance with almost 10% product cost savings. Additionally an absolute unique selling point for the former commodity product.

Fensterblick auf Tragfläche mit Winglet symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Luftfahrt

Aviation – At the Limits of Physics

Starting Point

A long established innovation project to reduce fuel consumption by means of aerodynamic modifications shall get a second wind. Large numbers of experts with different state of knowledge.​

Approach

Condensed off-site workshop with experts from engineering, manufacturing, patent office and innovation management. Structured invention with live patent checks.

Result

Double digit number of invention reports in an area previously assessed as „largely exhausted“. Workshop format established as a company standard.

Hand am Tablet in eienr Produktionshalle symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Anforderungsmanagement

Railway Industry – Requirements go digital

Starting Point

Lack of flexibility, contractual penalties and delivery delays due to analog and dysfunctional requirements management in multi-year projects.

Approach

Fundamental new development of a digital requirements management including all business areas, locations and functions worldwide.

Result

Completely digitized processes in requirements development and management across the group. Established working methods and effective controlling across locations.

Wassertropfen auf texturierter Oberfläche symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Oberflächentechnik

Surface Technology – Traditional Family Company

Starting Point

Missing unique market position in the product portfolio. Lack of clarity, in which area innovative solutions should be developed.

Approach

Finding customer-relevant problems and developing unique solutions. 6 months focused innovation projects with in-house experts.

Result

Industry novelty with a successful prototype, solid business case and outstanding acceptance from customers, colleagues and management.

Reisezug in den Alpen als Symbol für Innovationsprojekt im Schienenverkehr

Railroad Industry – OEM & Supplier

Starting Point

Desired reduction in acquisition cost and life time costs for a subsystem. 6 months of brainstorming without success.

Approach

Structured invention for the product of the future. Detailed work on an approach that was considered “impossible” by the experts.

Result

Patented, future-oriented solution that could have been developed 20 years earlier; with a decisive contribution to a secured billion-dollar contract.

Leuchtende Fasern symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt in Kunststofffasern

Synthetic Fibre Manufacturer – Made in Germany

Starting Point

Inexpensive competitive imports weaken the plastics producer’s core business and threaten the company’s survival.

Approach

Focussing corporate management on the customer perspective. Development of innovative product & service offers.

Result

Clear view, common focus and bundled forces for a promising innovation project within the company’s core business and the core competencies.

Flexibler Schlauch symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Automobilzulieferer

Automotive Supplier – Flexible Components Production

Starting Point

Global Player is challenged with seemingly unsolvable issues in shape cutting production of flexible parts. Process and quality problems let customers cringe.

Approach

Initial methodology awareness training plus two subsequential cross-functional design sprints to radically simplify the production process. Including mindset changes and rapid prototypes.

Result

Complete elminiation of shape cutting in the production processYearly production cost savings:
3 Million Euro.

Techniker mit Schutzhelm symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Industriedienstleister

Industrial Service Provider – Digital Change

Ausgangssituation

Technological change makes thousands of maintenance technicians and inspectors obsolete, as  technology more and more checks itself.

Approach

Development and design of new business models and fields of action. Creation of a common language for innovation and subsequent project manager coachings.

Result

Sharpened business model ideas ready for internal and external compelling communication. Long-term sustainable business opportunities within the workforce’s core skills areas.

Riemen am Motor symbolisch für Innovationsprojekt Automobilzulieferer

Automotive Supplier – Commodity Trap

Starting Point

High-turnover products are getting commoditized. Increasing price pressure from imitation parts and plagiarusm. There is a new hope in service businesses.

Approach

Servitization as a central approach for business models from previously unpaid services. Intensive work with company management and experts from all areas.

Result

Multi-generation plan for the development of a service platform as the basis for numerous business models. Concrete action plan and team composition for successful implementation.

Innovation is a key success factor for companies of all sizes and in all industries. TOM SPIKE supports companies that have technology at the core of their organization. Automotive suppliers, industrial service providers, technology groups, startups, manufacturing companies and process engineering companies are just a few of them. Based on technological know-how, technology innovations are only one of the possible steps. Product, service / process and business model innovations play an equally important role. As an innovation consultancy, we support where the shoe pinches. Large corporations often want to maintain their ability to innovate and use the dynamism and innovative strength of young startups. Startups, on the other hand, are less concerned about ideation. The hurdles here are more the marketable, affordable and timely implementation of visionary ideas to make them become innovations. Medium-sized companies have a bit of everything and mostly fights on both fronts.

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