Services | Product Innovation Consortium
Helping manufacturers turn ideas into reality through the MAS - WM 'Product Innovation Consortium'
The Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands
( MAS -WM) has thrown out a challenge to West Midlands manufacturers
to take a more sustainable and innovative approach to product development
as it launches a new initiative aimed at assisting manufacturer's to
increase global competitiveness by drawing on the region's world-class
creative capabilities.
The ‘Product Innovation Consortium' will see MAS -WM and its associates support companies through the fundamental phases of N ew Product Development, helping turn bright ideas into commercial successes. Advantage West Midlands will support the pilot initiative with £500,000 worth of funding.
The Cox Review of Creativity in Business commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2005 identified that the UK experienced lower levels of commercial exploitation compared to overseas competitors and acknowledged that innovation and technology were fundamental to the future of UK manufacturing.
Ivan Buckley, Manufacturing Policy Manager, AWM said;
‘The UK continues to loose out to low cost, high volume overseas competitors. Generally, inefficient in-company product development processes, limited access to technology and innovation and a lack of funding to commit to ongoing product development, has put the region behind many of its global competitors.'
He adds;
‘The Product Innovation Consortium addresses these issues and puts New Product Development on the agendas of manufacturers throughout the region.'
PIC provides clients with project management support, within a structured New Product Development and Introduction process. Each phase of the process is supported with grant funding for the necessary tasks being undertaken (design, market feasibility, IPR , prototyping, testing etc).
A panel of experts from design, technology, marketing, manufacturing and finance will oversee client projects and help steer the projects towards commercialisation.
Roy Pulley, MAS -WM Specialist Manufacturing Advisor said;
‘' PIC is a new approach in supporting innovation in companies, in that it is not just a funding scheme for design and development activity, but it provides a structured and controlled process framework in which the development activities are performed.
He concludes;
“A lack of process and project management in a company's new product development,, often results in either a lack of investment for the commercialisation of the product or more seriously, a less than effective introduction into the market.
For manufacturing companies with a product idea that want to learn more, you can call the MAS -WM helpdesk on 0845 245 0845
MAS -WM: PIC Launch presentations (PDFs). To view click in appropriate brackets
(David Wright PIC ) ( PIC Launch) (Innovation WM Overview) (Business Process in Manufacture) ( PIC Gateway) (Teal Patents Case Study) (Design & Voice of the Customer) (Task Analysis) (Introduction to IP) (Investment Readiness) (The Business Plan What Investors Are Looking For) (Manufacturing Readiness)
Note! Business Process in Manufacture is a particularly large file and will take some time to download.(2.61 MB)