Make innovations fly!
Innovation
Develop and implement innovations
Here we present some exemplary projects. Basically, we analyze the initial situation and support you in formulating a problem statement. This approach ensures a focused approach and ensures that a workshop delivers strong results. A problem statement briefly and very precisely describes the initial situation, e.g. in the form of a contradiction or a "how could we-" statement from the description of a user. This increases the benefit of a workshop considerably. The preparation effort is increased slightly, but the quality of the discussions and ideas increases disproportionately. This also avoids discussions that move in circles. Problems can thus be prioritized and worked through in sequence. The right innovation method can also be selected in this way. As a service we offer workshops, advice, project support or management of innovation projects. On request, we advise you on the optimization of your innovation process, the project portfolio, the strategy connection. We also train certain methods. Please contact us!
Exemplary Projects
Execution: Project Lead Digital Twin
A customer wanted to evaluate a new technology to test pharmaceutical substances "insilico", i.e. digitally through simulation, before the first clinical tests. Data from the previously performed laboratory tests were to be used. Models of the human heart were created in a supercomputer environment. These were used to assess possible side effects on the human heart.
The data were compared to clinical trials for several existing drugs. A real substance from drug research was also simulated. The new tool is now being used operationally by the company. A publication from the pharmaceutical company and the startup partner has been submitted.
New Product Development and Generation of Patents
Problem:
For a product group needed for diagnostic reagents, the area was considered "fully researched" and experts considered it impossible to patent other products or processes as a patent.
Method:
The problems were analyzed with different methods from the TRIZ toolbox. In workshops many ideas were generated using the methods functional analysis, 76 standard solutions and 9-field thinking, some of which were verified in laboratory tests.
An innovative workshop format was also used, in which the moderators worked out specific problem statements with the experts. Subsequently the experts brainstormed during lunch on a well prepared problem statement.
Result:
3 new patents could be generated in very short time.
Patent Circumvention
Problem:
The development of a new analytical procedure showed that the planned approach was already protected by a patent from another company.
Method:
The opposing patent was analyzed with the help of the function analysis. Using methods such as 9-field thinking and trimming, ideas for problem solving were generated.
Result:
Through targeted trimming of individual components and modules, it was possible to create a higher state-of-the-art, which made a new patent possible.
Function Analysis
The Function Analysis is a very powerful analytical tool. It helps to understand all the relevant functions that a component in a system performs and descibes its relationships to other components.
It can be used to understand problems, bypass patents, analysis, trimming and cost reduction, identify customer needs, as well as process analysis.
The Function Analysis lists all components of a system, analyzes their functions and their impact on other components. A function is anything that changes a parameter of the target component.
It also lists the interaction with the environment ("Supersystem").
Function Analysis can be used to analyze technical or process-related problems.
It can be used as a starting point for circumventing patents or as a basis for cost reduction eg. by trimming components.
System Operator / "9-Field Thinking"
The system operator is a matrix that can be used for group discussions. It can be used to think about how a system will evolve in the future. In a first step, the system is divided into system, supersystem (its environment) and subsystem (relevant component). Subsequently, a relevant development step in the past is analyzed. Based on this discussion of the past, the next step is to discuss possible future developments of the subsystem, supersystem and system.
This is an excellent way to get a team into a creative mode.
Creative Method: Use of Toothbrushes to Illustrate Innovative Principles
In many situations it is important to generate unusual ideas in order to leave behind conventional thinking. TRIZ offers a number of approaches such as the 40 innovative principles, but these are often perceived as too abstract.
Therefore, Schaper Tech has developed a technique to trigger unusual ideas and solutions. Different dental care products are used, in which the most varied principles are used to solve a problem.
This guarantees new ideas "out-of-the-box" and free of bias. This leaves the familiar environment and completely new approaches can lead to new and disruptive solutions or products.
Design Thinking
Design thinking initially has little to do with the look of a product. Rather, it is about creating a product (or service) that is optimally tailored to the needs of the user.
To achieve this it tries to understand the problems of the customer exactly e.g. by interviews or observations. Then typical user types are formed as "personas" from whose perspective the problem is described as "user story". Brainstorming is supported by numerous creative methods. In addition, "warm ups" are repeatedly carried out to promote creativity. The best ideas are implemented in prototypes (paper, Lego, etc.) and presented to the customer.
All steps are carried out with strict time limits. The extreme importance of the customer perspective and the creative work with half-finished prototypes, which are also rejected regularly, is strongly culture-shaping for a company.
