A lot of useful technology that is needed in the steel fabrication, aluminium fabrication, and steel fabrication processes do not come out of research labs trying to find new and better ways to accomplish a task or solve a problem. But rather, more often than not, the innovations happen within the factory itself. Moreover, these innovations arise from dealing with a customer’s problem. Is there a way to capitalize from these spontaneous innovations stemming from customer request? Let us find out.
Be prepared to tackle oncoming innovations and changes
When your customer presents you with a product, something they need but cannot get anywhere, it is a chance for you to catch that opportunity and make that customer the product and treat them as a source of income from that product. Generally, this is hard to accomplish, but a neat customer relations trick can set you off on the right foot with a customer. You should try to match your sales team with the customer during interactions. This strategy puts the best listeners and problem solvers your company has to offer in the same room as your most important customers, allowing them to serve the customer, listen to their problems and figure out impactful solutions. As an extra step for more technically adept customers who are less likely to seek aid, try to offer additional cooperation. If all goes well, things will play right into your favor at the end of the day.
Anticipating and Preparing for Product Development
Although most patents are issued by companies, the companies themselves do not produce ideas. More accurately, the people working in the companies do so. Therefore, when a brilliant idea emerges you should be ready to set up proper agreements with employees when working out patents and copyrights. This ensures that everybody knows what they are working with and where the ownership of the innovation lies. To prepare yourself for this eventuality, consider a legal counsel to streamline the process. These agreements are crucially important to company and customer relationships when work involving new ideas and tests are involved.
Protecting and Profiting from the Product
When a new and good product emerges, so does the chance to establish a monopoly on the product. Say, for example, a customer with an idea for a new product comes to your company for aid. After much elaboration and research, a new invention is made that is loosely related to things that have existed before it. Such an invention is patentable. Immediately afterward, a proper understanding of how the product works is essential in getting a patent, as, without a good enough description of the invention, the product may not be accepted for a patent. Finally, ensure that you present the best version of the product. This means that prior testing and incremental improvement should be made before rushing for a patent. Suppose you design a brand new process for laser cutting, metal bending, or even metal rolling, ensure that you know how your process works before trying to patent it.
The Benefit of Preparation
Success in developing and capitalizing on new innovations is not possible in the metal fabrication industry without prior planning and preparation. Welcoming innovation and nurturing it along the way is the path to success.
