How SMEs can witness technological development

1
How SMEs can witness technological development

• Peter S. Niess
• Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum
• IRC D/CH

2
Why do SMEs need Technology Watch?
think forward reduce risk make progress innovate
network

• Identify changes
• technologies, equipment
• clients, competitors
• Identify risks
• patents, products
• regulations
• Identify Gaps
• offer vs. demand
• company vs. competitors
• Create new solutions
• RD results
• USP
• Find new partners
• clients, suppliers, experts,

Source Müller, Schmidt, Weg zur Quelle
3
What are the purposes of Technology
Watch?Typical SMEs intentions
strategic
i.e. implementation of an early warning system
i.e. idea generation for a new product family
eventually
permanent
i.e. detection of the violation of IPR
i.e. decision support for the purchase of a
new CNC machine tool
operational
Source ARIST Rhone-Alpes
4
What are the observation directions of Strategic
Technology Watch?
innovation of products and processes by the
exploitation of RD results...
recognition of customer demand and competition
activities

decision support by optimal collection, distribut
ion, storage and retrieval of information...
technologies
markets
organisation
5
Analysis of the current situation, TW system
design 5 questions to be answered
1. What to watch? (technology fields, sources)
5. How to communicate? (reports, information
sessions...)
2. Who watches? ( departments, staff)
3. Who evaluates? (knowledge/expertise)
4. Who decides? (Board of Directors...)
Source ARIST Rhone-Alpes
6
How to identify important technology fields

• selection of experts
• (idea collection regarding fields of search)
• definition of the firms core activities
• SWOT and Vision analysis
• development of a technology road map
• identification of technology fields
• (data base research, i.e. CORDIS)

7
Result of a SWOT and Vision analysis (example)
miniaturisation
TRENDS

• STRENGHTS
• applications engineering
• stepping motor

• WEAKNESSES
• know-how of other controls
• market knowledge

• VISION
• solution provider for positioning drives
• technology follower, application innovator
• Europe

• FLOPS
• servo assisted technology
• deficit in new product
• technologies

replacement of me- chanical by electronic function
s

• HITS
• integration drive/control
• actuators

8
Vision of the company (example)

• mission
• problem solver for industrial drives
• products and their competitive advantage (USP)
• high degree of functional integration
• application know-how engineering
• arena
• focus on Europe
• well defined niches (i.e. printing, medicine and
  wood technology)
• role in competition
• technology follower but product innovator

9
Vision concerning products
master
control, drive and actuator in a single shell
control and drive in a single shell
drive
control
actuator
customer process
10
Technology fields to be watched (example)

• Sensorless motor
• Microcontroller
• joining and bonding technologies
• Highly efficient motors and gearboxes
• Magnetic materials
• Communication interface (CAN, Interbus...)
• Moving coil - linear motors and actuators

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Who watches?Internal and external observers
technology
universities
internet
...
sales force experts
drive mechanics
Uni C
RD journals
CORDIS
Epidos (patents)
company web sites
control
Uni B
Uni A
actuator
research
validation
market
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Model of a TW System
customer
supplier
salesmen
observers
data base
institutes
short reports
internet
experts
marketing
sales distribution
analysts
gate keeper
RD
final con- clusions
watch pilot
general management
deciders
team leaders
heads of departments
13
Technology Watch System of an SME(example)
SD
M
SD
M
mechanics
TI
SD
field bus process control
linear motors direct drives
Mr S.
RD
Mr M.
microcontroller
TI
Mr A.
fast revolving motors
Mr G.
Mr R.
TI
RD
joining bonding.
Dr. H.
Mr L.
magnetic materials
RD
integrated circuits
Mr O.
RD
plastics
sensors
RD
RD
TI