Organizing Innovation in Emerging Technologies

Summary

The technology climate in which the world airframe industry operates has always been stimulating for innovations with high R&D investments. To meet the requirements from several fronts, including those of regulatory bodies, several technological areas have emerged: Structure & Materials, Propulsion, Aircraft Systems and Aerodynamics, which interact with each other as well. Optimal utilization of these emerging technologies can result in a superior aircraft which will appeal airlines, passengers and regulatory agencies.

The airline operator’s climate, however, is for explainable reasons dictated by short term aims. This industry is mainly interested in economics of operation and the technological innovations are of secondary importance. Innovations are costly, time consuming and have high failure rates. This means progress in aircraft technology is mainly an extension of conventional technology rather than the radical changes which the enthousiastic innovators would opt. In the automobile industry the situation is similar.

Within the world of giants, Fokker is a relatively small airframe manufacturer. Nevertheless, Fokker has succeeded in being innovative in the last couple of decades, amongst others, in the area of ‘Material and Manufacturing Technology’. The current practice is to combine future oriented innovative efforts with day-to-day activities to support engineering, production and marketing. This combination facilitates spin-in and overcomes formation of ivory towers. It is, however, not stimulating for innovation process as this requires minimal interference. In addition, managing such a combined activity is also complex. Furthermore, only limited attention can be paid to innovations directed towards technological breakthroughs. In spite of all these difficulties, innovation has resulted in the recent past. Based on few case studies, factors which have led to innovation will be highlighted in this presentation. Organizational efforts, instituted recently to structure innovation will also be discussed. The latter, however, is in the stage of implementation and the outcome is yet to be seen.