Patents and Innovation in Welding Technology and Manufacturing

Abstract

In today's economic scenario, competitiveness is influenced by many uncertainties, including such diverse factors as global economic trends, political developments and natural disasters, as never before felt in the past few decades. Therefore, the industry, in general strives to retain its market advantage through all possible means. This is done through increased value addition in every sphere of its activity. An important part of value addition is the continuing process of effecting improvements in manufacturing practices, product design and marketing. In a typical corporate entity manufacturing innovations are piloted by the R&D department, in close co-operation with production or manufacturing personnel. A major part of the organization’s resources are spent, therefore in recruiting, motivating, nurturing and coordinating the teams that are part of the innovation chain.