How to Collect Ideas for the Development of Product and Process Innovations in the Building Process

• Construction companies can be described as intermediate companies that use many production methods and building materials/components to produce a variety of products. Since construction companies are also very decentralised and project oriented, they are not adapted to developing new process or product technologies. Manufacturers of construction machinery, building materials, and building components must thus be responsible for this task. Construction companies must develop the ability to communicate their technology-development needs to manufacturers and to adopt new technology. There are, however, many indications that communication between manufacturers and construction companies as to what should be developed needs to be improved. This paper describes and analyses two case studies of building-material manufacturers and how they collect product-development ideas; we then present an innovation process model. We conclude that there is a need to improve communication pertaining to technology needs between intermediate and basic-technology companies.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Byggproduktion (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Construction Management (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

basic-technology company

information

innovation process

innovation system

intermediate company

product developme

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)