Manufacturing

This month, Mitsubishi Electric U.S. is opening a new innovation hub in Boston. What’s the goal? We talk to two leaders…

We talk with VP Tyler Smith to get his advice on driving innovation in the built environment.

Milwaukee Tool, a trusted name in construction for over a century, entered the digital space in 2015 with its One-Key line of connected tools and apps for managing, monitoring, and securing equipment. Andy Lambert, VP of Digital Product, discusses the challenges of integrating software into a hardware company, how technology is reshaping construction, and the focus on metrics that prioritize customer efficiency and safety.

Tthe shift toward compostable and bio-based solutions is already underway, writes Bob Meers, CEO of Better for All. Those who fail to adapt risk losing relevance and market share in an increasingly eco-conscious world. Read more…

Allegion reshaped its innovation ecosystem by emphasizing deep internal engagement—from rapid prototyping in its Pin & Tumbler studio to a part-time corporate venture structure. We speak with Robert Martens, Allegion’s chief innovation and design officer and president of Allegion Ventures, about how this approach fuels successful ventures, keeps employees invested, and aligns innovation with executive priorities.

We talked to Hearth & Home Technologies, manufacturer and supplier of fireplaces and stoves, about AI and innovation for our research initiative, “How AI is Influencing Corporate Innovation in 2024.”

Pamela Everett, Product Planning and Innovation Manager for home appliance manufacturer Electrolux, shares her thoughts on how data can help with alignment; gives insights on how staying close to a project after the handoff can yield better results, and more.

As part of our member spotlight series, Dan Bull, Innovation Program Lead at Rockwell Automation, shares how he transitioned from roles in sales to innovation; gives insights on his biggest learnings from innovation; and gives advice for those new to innovation.

The privately-held company’s Chief Technology Officer, Greg Hannon, talks about metrics, AI, and healthcare as a growth industry.

In early 2020, 3M decentralized its operating model to give the presidents of its four business groups more autonomy over R&D. We talk to SVP Cordell Hardy about how it started, and how it’s going. 

Pascale Wautelet is Vice President of Global R&D for Label and Graphic Materials at Avery Dennison Corporation. We spoke with Pascale as part of our IL Member Spotlight series.

During the pandemic, sessions where engineers would sit down on-site with key customers and better understand their use cases for Leviton’s products had to change. Here’s how the lighting and wiring giant addressed that challenge.

In a recent interview with InnoLead, Linda Elkins, Head of W.L. Gore’s Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, shares insights on how she prioritizes innovation opportunities.

Bedri Erdem, VP of R&D and Corporate Quality at Rust-Oleum, shares insights on why shelf space is such an important metric in his company, why it sometimes causes challenges within the organization, and why it makes a good rule of thumb for killing projects.

Uwe Kirschner of Bosch Innovation Consulting shared his team’s biggest accomplishments from 2020, as well as advice he wished he knew sooner…

Jeremy Tole discusses his team’s biggest accomplishment and best practices for working at an outpost across the ocean from headquarters. 

Moises Noreña, VP of Innovation at Fortune Brands, shares insights on the metrics that his team uses to gauge innovation. He also discusses overcoming challenges in identifying and reporting the right metrics…

While car companies are always releasing new models, the way our vehicles get serviced has largely remained the same. But Bridgestone is working on several high-potential projects to modernize car maintenance.

Chad Manuell, Director of Engineering at Trek Bicycle, discusses the surge in demand for bikes and how his team approaches early innovation.

Tracy Wymer, VP of Workplace Strategy at design firm and manufacturer Knoll, shares predictions for how the office will change in 2021 and beyond. 

We sat down with Mark Maybury, Chief Technology Officer at Stanley Black and Decker, to learn more about the company’s recent growth initiatives, its “exteme innovation ecosystem,” technology investments, and more.

In this Master Class, Ashish Basuray of PreScouter discusses five megatrends, including digital twins, third-wave AI, smart materials, and more.

Jason Field, CEO and President of W. L. Gore & Associates, shares how he encourages a culture of innovation and gets all levels of employees involved.

One innovator from Stanley Black & Decker shares insights on how COVID-19 has impacted his innovation strategy in 2020 and how his team has managed to secure key wins during the pandemic.

Two leaders of the Panasonic Hollywood Lab predict how entertainment will become even more personalized in a post-COVID world. They also discuss environments that promote healing and relaxation.

How have innovation labs shifted during this period of remote work? What sets labs up for success?  Linda Elkins, Chief Technical Officer of W.L. Gore’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center, shares.

Shashi Jain’s day job is Intel. But he’s working almost another full-time shift  as an organizer of the Portland 3D Printing Lab, which has been producing face shields for healthcare workers… 

Gwenn Peters, InnoLead at Rockwell Automation, shares the story of her organization’s bountry program for innovators.

Brett Dibkey knows what he shouldn’t be doing at Whirlpool’s WLabs: delivering incremental improvements to the refrigerator. Instead, his 4-year-old incubator, located in Benton Harbor, Mich., is tasked with something a whole lot harder: creating new kinds of appliances in categories that aren’t yet well-established. 

How can supply chain innovation deliver serious value? Guests from Retail Business Services, J&J, and MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics discuss.

The traditional process for creating a shoe takes 18 months. New Balance’s new record, as a result of their Test Run program, is seven months…

Autodesk’s San Francisco Technology Center is an innovator’s paradise, equipped with a wide array of tools and a skilled staff to help with the prototyping process…

“Corporate innovation…teams spend little time assessing culture’s role in…[working] with startups,” writes W.L. Gore’s Paul Campbell. Get advice on how to avoid that fate…

Georgia-Pacific’s Point A Center launches collaborative pilots between different companies to tackle complex supply chains with increased visibility and sustainability.

How do you ensure that an innovation lab takes advantage of the engineering smarts of the core business? Find out how Piaggio Fast Forward tackled the challenge.

Rob Martens of security company, Allegion, discussed how his team uses venture capital to balance internal and external innovation. Elliot Parker of venture firm High Alpha also shared his experience.

Christie McCarthy of Corning’s life sciences division, discusses the 345 Model, the importance of patience, scalability, and where ideas come from. 

Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner shares how Hasbro navigates the changing retail landscape and why changing things as fast as the market demands can often run counter to human nature. Part three of three…

Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner shares how the company navigates the changing retail landscape; how they managing Wall Street’s expectations; and more. Part two of three…

In the decade since Hasbro Chairman and CEO Brian Goldner took charge, the company has begun to take a “digital-first” approach to everything it does. Read our three part interview…

What role should digital transformation play at your company? Former Chief Innovation Officer Marcelo De Santis shares advice in this podcast bonus episode…

GE VP Cate Gutowski discusses how the company approaches innovation and the importance of weaving the digital thread. Listen to the full call…

Stanley Black and Decker’s “Futures Innovation Factory” works on new products like smarter security cameras, automated doors, and more. Take a look inside the space…

Lucia Chierchia of Electrolux discusses how she seeks out the “hidden innovators,” the “ambassadors” program she launched, and more. Includes slides…

Whirlpool Corporation has been working hard to get hackathons to generate real value. Subho Moulik, Head of Global Innovation, explains what they’ve learned so far…

Take a look inside W.L. Gore’s new Silicon Valley Innovation Center. In May, the company held the first public event in the space, bringing in startups in to pitch their ideas.

The Applied Innovation Lab helps Medtronic evolve from being simply a maker of medical devices to one thinks more broadly about improving health and patient outcomes. 

Creating an iconic brand requires more than great design. Find out what makes a brand iconic from Soon Yu the former Global VP of Innovation at VF Corporation. 

Amelia Gandara of GE Fuse discusses the program’s community, and the right and wrong ways to source solutions from outside. Read more for insights.

InnoLead shares data from our  survey on the ties between business units and innovation groups. Executives from Fidelity Investments, Aon Health, GOJO Industries, and Trek Bicycle, share their perspectives.