WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ELECTRONICS

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ELECTRONICS 

 

LG Electronics recognises the importance of research and development as a competitive edge, and devotes approximately 30 percent of our staff worldwide (outside of those directly devoted to manufacturing and assembly) to R&D.

R&D can be measured in three levels - our corporate R&D centre; core technology for the future; and lifestyle research, with teams based in the US, Europe and Asia.

Our differentiation centres around innovation, and to us that means regularly rewriting and rethinking the rule book - literally. We have a program called Tear Down and Re-Design (TDR), which involves the re-evaluation of current thinking and the subsequent emergence of new ideas from the ground up. This program is spearheaded by management and involves participation throughout the entire organisation, fuelling a culture that accepts the necessity for change.

TDR works this way. Firstly, a mission and target is set. A taskforce is then allocated to proceed on the TDR project assigning people from every related area to the TDR mission (eg, R&D, marketing, sales, admin and production, etc.). Team members are given a leave from their regular duties to focus purely on TDR activities. Members are selected based on who is the most knowledgeable/capable (usually one or two from each area - although they can be across broader employment). A TDR project may run for one month to over two years however, it will only be implemented if the outcome will achieve a minimum of 30 per cent improvement (for example, 30-40 per cent reduction in cost while maintaining the same product quality, specifications etc). Once a TDR recommendation has met the set proof points and been approved, all relevant staff are then encouraged to apply the new TDR process.

Employees are encouraged to comply with at least one TDR activity per year, with bonuses awarded to all staff that complete a TDR activity. In addition to this incentive, all promotions must also incorporate previous TDR participation.

In this way, management encourages change via innovation and involvement in TDR and all staff are encouraged to participate.

Through this business approach of top-down encouragement and entire staff involvement, LG Electronics builds and enhances our leadership in innovation and 'first to market' approach.

Daniel Shin, Managing Director,
LG Electronics Australia

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WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ORGANIC FOOD RETAILING

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ORGANIC FOOD RETAILING 

 

For everyone living in cities not growing their own organic produce, it is hard to know where to find fresh, authentic produce that is 'truly organic'.

If you talk to most Australian's about food, they are becoming more concerned about where the food they eat is produced and how it is produced. Organic produce is also receiving increased awareness.

Have you observed people at a supermarket lately? Check out the number of people who are actually reading the labels before putting product in the trolley...

Australia's management of the organic industry lags well behind Europe and the US, the fact that we have 7 organic certifiers in this country creates confusion and inconsistency. Consumers can purchase products without sufficient labeling criteria to guarantee efficacy of items across a wide spectrum of products including; vegetables, dairy, meat and packaged products.

Good health and well-being options should be available to everyone. Organic produce can assist people who are interested in a healthier lifestyle and as Macro Wholefoods grows, we plan to increase options for the growing percentage of Australians who enjoy these products.

How can innovation within a small retailer such as Macro Wholefoods change an industry? Only time will tell. I have limited time to date in this position as CEO in Australia, however on the agenda we will definitely continue to differentiate ourselves, "changing the way a nation eats and consumes".

David Ginsberg, Chief Executive Officer, Macro Wholefoods

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WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO STATE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO STATE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

 

New South Wales is maintaining its world leading edge through the convergence and innovation of modern industries.

Take the interdependence of three sectors in which the State is an Australian leader - ICT, financial services and digital media.

ICT employs over 120,000 people in NSW - 35 per cent of the nation's total - and we lead Australia in ICT research capabilities, with the headquarters of a range of ICT-related research facilities including National ICT Australia (NICTA).

ICT is providing the technology platforms that drive the growth of industries like financial services, according to Invest Australia. Today, Sydney's financial services workforce is nearly half the size of London's and more than one-third the size of New York City's.

Convergence of the ICT, entertainment and creative industries has also seen Sydney develop a reputation as Australia's digital media and film post production hot-spot, and grown international leaders such as Animal Logic.

This convergence of smart industries is lifting business innovation to new levels and keeping NSW at the cutting edge of global competition.

NSW industries are leading the way on investing in their future, with business expenditure on research and development in 2004-05 reaching an all time high of $3.157 billion.

Loftus Harris, director general,
NSW Department of State and Regional Development

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WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO TECHNOLOGY

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO TECHNOLOGY 

 

For Hitachi, innovation is the process of making improvements in society by introducing new technologies. Through innovative technologies, we develop and market new products and systems that have the ability to change our world.

Within Hitachi, each business Group and Group Company has a division directly responsible for product development based on an individual business strategy. The Hitachi Group has a total of 30 research laboratories, with some Group companies having their own independent research laboratories and structures. As of April 2006, the Group had a consolidated total of 5,891 people working in research and development. The R&D budget for FY 2006 was 430 billion yen, 6% higher than 2005.

To strengthen collaboration between corporate R&D and Group Company R&D, we are promoting Group integrated management of common technologies, as well as high-quality manufacturing technology and improvement of R&D efficiency. The goal of collaborative innovation in R&D is to strengthen research and development through Group technology interaction and product development via vertical integration of technology.

Through innovation in new technologies, Hitachi contributes positively to society and aims to be the leader in all endeavours - challenging new business opportunities with a "pioneering spirit", aiming to "Inspire the next".

Yutaka SUGIHARA, Managing Director, Hitachi Australia

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WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO TECHNOLOGY USERS

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO TECHNOLOGY USERS 

 

At Canon, we see innovation as our lifeblood. We believe it is critical to invest in the development of our products to future-proof our solutions. Innovation is part of all aspects of our business, including product development, marketing and customer service. Being innovative means being a step ahead of the competition and providing solutions to customers that respond directly to their needs.

In Australia, Canon's research and development group is Canon Information Systems Research Australia (CISRA). CISRA has grown from a small R&D group to one of Canon's largest research centres outside of Japan with an annual turnover of A$50m. In Australia, research and development allows us to customise software solutions for Australian customers and export these products to the rest of the world. CISRA allows us to be dynamic and design solutions that strengthen our product offering.

Crucial to the success of R&D is a company's ability to commercialise its innovation. Our customers have been able to reap the rewards of our investment in R&D through the tailored solutions and practical applications we have developed.

We believe innovation is a major driver for the economy; Canon's commitment to innovation sustains Canon globally and locally.

Shuichi Tsukahara, Managing Director,
Canon Australia

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