October 2018

Technical Review
“INNOVATE, DESIGN, TEST, REPEAT”
Innovation is one of the most overly used buzz words, but what does it really mean? Brian
Mack of EJOT UK gives his view…
Almost daily we see new products hitting the
market, yet they are not always what they
seem. We are all familiar with the strap lines
“new and improved”, “new range” and “now with
added” or “reduced”, but are we seeing true
improvements and is this true innovation?
I’d say true innovation is driven by technical
advancements and a need to increase
performance reliability, or develop new materials
and products to help tackle installation issues
that can help meet new legislation and
regulations. Yes, a good product developed 40
years ago can still be relevant in today’s highly
demanding construction industry; but if the
product is reliant on the status quo of the materials
and systems around it, then it may not be
performing to 100% of its original design intent.
Revolution and evolution
For me, innovation is a mix of revolution and
evolution driven by technology and creativity. The
starting point is knowledge, experience and
understanding.
Knowledge: We need to know how existing
products are performing with regards to all
aspects that are required of the component; what
has been selected and why and how is it
installed? What’s actually being installed –
what’s it fixing and to what substrate? How has it
been manufactured and how does the engineering
process behind this relate to the product’s
technical performance? This can be crucial.
As a manufacturer, even having knowledge of
how the tooling is made and having the ability to
craft your own tooling can be the difference
between a product’s success and failure on site.
Industry knowledge of existing, current and future
trends and developments, and changing
legislation are all strategic aspects in developing
a knowledge database. Having manufacturing
knowledge to ensure any new product can be
successfully manufactured to meet its
requirements in-situ is essential.
Experience: We need the data from testing and
experience from seeing the product in use so we
can assess its benefits and limitations. This
enables us to get a better understanding and to
be able to adapt so that products can push the
boundaries. Experience of how products are
manufactured from raw materials, quality
processors, testing and inspection, right through
to the finished product are essential in making a
feasible business plan for a new, innovative
product.
Understanding: We are in a far stronger position
if we can understand how industry is developing
and use this experience to predict and generate
the products that will be needed in an everchanging
construction industry. Again,
understanding the manufacturing process and
how these processes can be adapted and
modified to ensure the product can be made is
crucial. How will the product work as part of a
complete system? We believe it is far more
beneficial to design a product with the eye of a
manufacturer – with all of our knowledge and
experience – rather than the alternative of
somebody just “having a go” to meet a
customer’s request. A true manufacturer
understands the needs of every aspect of a
product, from specification to procurement;
performance to installation technique and
procedures; in service and life cycles, through to
end of use sustainability and environmental
credentials.
Once we have our starting point we can develop a
process of improvement, but improvements can
be limiting and constraining. We have to have a
different thought process: “there is always a
better way.” We need to unclutter our minds;
creativity comes from an open mind. The paper
may start off blank but if surrounded by a desk of
ideas, knowledge, experience and understanding,
then this can be the catalyst for innovation.
The R&D process can then begin: The R is
normally for Research, but it’s also for
Resources; the resource of knowledge, experience
and understanding. The D is for Development but
it’s also for Design, Diagnostics, Decisions and
Discoveries. But R&D is definitely not for
Replicate and Duplicate.
A lightbulb moment can hit an individual but I’d
say it takes an experienced R&D team to keep the
light on, make it efficient, innovate the idea and
bring it to production and market for the benefit of
the end user.
Testing, testing and testing
We have to ensure that the innovative product
enhances the application, adds value and
performance, and conforms to its design criteria
and function and does not just do the same as an
existing product. No one wants a “Dragons’ Den”
moment and to be told there’s a simpler solution
already in existence that performs better than
your new product. So not only good research and
development is required but Testing, Testing and
Testing is required. Real life trials and a process
of ensuring that a unique, innovative solution
offers quality, performance, and benefits to meet
expectations on time, every time. I believe only a
circular process of “Innovate, design, test,
repeat” can do this.
Contact EJOT UK
01977 687 040
www.ejot.co.uk
@EJOTUK_Building
56 TC OCTOBER 2018