P.PIP.0442 - Fletcher International Exports Pty Limited - Innovation Manager

Summary

MLA and Fletcher International Exports (FIE) have agreed to progress to Stage 1 of a Collaborative Innovation Strategy program over a three-year period commencing on 1 September 2014 (see project J09685). This schedule covers the appointment of two Innovation Managers who will be the key resources in implementing their innovation program. FIE require two Innovation Managers due to the diverse nature of innovation required for each of their processing sites. For the first six months MLA will support these positions part time or equivalent to two full time equivalent (FTE). This arrangement will be reviewed at each Go/No Go point.

Objectives

The primary focus of the FIE Innovation Manager roles is the implementation of the agreed FIE/MLA Innovation Strategy across the Fletchers business.

The major activities to be undertaken by the Innovation Managers include:
- participate in the development of a comprehensive FIE Innovation Strategy across the key business areas identified above
- assist in developing and monitoring key performance indicators and other measures of impact as agreed
- instigate innovation idea generation and filtering and feedback processes with a specific focus on operational efficiency and processing technologies
- develop and co-ordinate an agreed suite of R&D/innovation projects
- manage and monitor the FIE innovation portfolio to manage expenditure and track benefits from outcomes generated from FIE R&D/innovation projects and activities
- participate in the development and implementation of a FIE innovation skills and resources plan
- support and coordination of site project teams
- participate in the development and implementation of cultural change initiatives required across the business to deliver against innovation objectives
- external relationship management with research partners, research providers, equipment suppliers, processing sector and value adding sector as appropriate
- participate in innovation skills development activities as agreed
- prepare regular project reports and quarterly innovation reports.

Key findings

Hiring two innovation managers for FIE will contribute to the overall success of the innovation strategy implemented in project P.PIP.5006. The success of these innovation managers can be determined by:
- Evidence of effective implementation of FIE innovation strategy in agreed areas
- Evidence of improvement in company innovation culture and capability
- Quantifiable improvements in company innovation measures (as agreed)
- efficient project delivery in accordance with budgets and timelines
- quality of reports.

Benefits to industry

MLA's support for this program will achieve the following benefits for industry:
- generic tools and approaches to building enterprise and supply chain innovation capability and achieving innovation outcomes that will be disseminated to the broader industry as agreed
- better understanding of the critical issues impacting on the competitiveness of the processing industry that will be extended more broadly to other enterprises within the industry as agreed
- new technologies and new scientific knowledge (arising from projects within the FIE/MLA Innovation Program) which will be commercialised and/or disseminated for the benefit of the broader industry as agreed.

MLA action

A revised relationship management and innovation resource structure (i.e. different from Stage 1) for both Fletchers and MLA will need to be developed to manage the expanded program, and the role of the joint Fletchers/MLA Executive Steering Committee in providing strategic direction will be further defined.

Future research

The plant needs to increase the capability of its staff to successfully implement the CISP. To this end it is recommended that the plant engages in an innovation working group with diverse capabilities stretching across the value chain. This working group should also establish a system for identifying and prioritising potential projects against key metrics. The system should plan and track innovations through the pipeline, proposal, prototyping and commercial stages and should also facilitate detailed performance reporting.