Mass Customization & Open Innovation News tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-202921 2013-05-21T06:52:08-04:00 Notes and ideas on mass customization, personalization, customer co-creation, and open innovation -- strategies of value co-creation between organizations and customers. This blog continues a long running newsletter, published and edited by Frank Piller, RWTH / MIT, since 1997. TypePad [OI Market Study 2013] Key Results – Global Market for Open Innovation Support tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e20191025f2cfd970c 2013-05-21T06:52:08-04:00 2013-05-21T11:11:06-04:00 When engaging in OI, organizations face the challenge of creating the internal ecosystem that allows them to profit from external input in an efficient and effective way. Professional assistance is offered by Open Innovation Accelerators (OIA) OIAs are intermediaries, consultancies,... Frank Piller

OIAS coverWhen engaging in OI, organizations face the challenge of creating the internal ecosystem that allows them to profit from external input in an efficient and effective way. Professional assistance is offered by Open Innovation Accelerators (OIA)

OIAs are intermediaries, consultancies, and agencies helping their clients to accelerate an open innovation project by providing dedicated tools, methods, access to an established community of solvers or participants, but also education and process consulting.

 With more than 160 players, the market for OIAs however is getting complex and difficult to navigate. Hence, we reached out to 160 providers of (inbound) open innovation services to join a 90 min survey investigating the OIA’s business model and environment, productivity, services offered, project specifics, and characteristics of their participant pool. In addition, we asked about estimates for the development of the open innovation market.

59 (37 percent) of the OIAs contacted provided us with a complete data set. For the remaining companies, we used secondary data sources.

In total, our study is the largest inquiry of the global market of open innovation services. In the following, we will provide some high-level results.

OIA Market Structure

OIAS graphic 1We find that the market for open innovation is getting mature. On average, OIAs have already conducted a high number of client projects, many of them 200 and more. Still, the market for OIAs shows continuous growth. 

Ideation contests are seen as the most promising open innovation format. They cover almost 80 percent of the entire open innovation market. Secondary services like software support, consultancy, or executive education enhance the offerings of many OIAs.

But we find that OIAs also increasingly reach out to functions beyond new product development. The core idea pattern of open innovation to engage an open, undefined network of people in form of an open call or open search activity seems to be transferrable to a variety of tasks, including marketing, customer service, recruitment, knowledge management, and HR.

When comparing our 2013 data with data from an earlier study in 2010, we find that about 20 percent of the 2010 OIAs do not exist any longer or have been acquired by other players. We expect an even stronger wave of acquisitions and mergers for the coming years.

The average cost for an OI project with an OIA is €43,000. But project costs differ widely, ranging from €12 (for a basic monthly description of an OIA web-service) to €164,000 (for an OI consulting service). The main project cost driver is personnel capacity. In the end, OIAs are no IT services or "self-service internet platforms", but knowledge-intensive service businesses. Recruiting experienced project managers and analysts becomes a major challenge for many OIAs.

OIA Services & Methods

In general, OIAs differ, first of all, regarding their approaches how to tap into an external knowledge space. These approaches can be differentiated according to the way how contributors for a specific project are selected and the collaborative process is being initiated. We find three options:

  • Open Call: Calling for individuals to identify themselves by contributing to a given task;
  • Open Search. Searching for relevant information or individuals according to a given task
  • Selective Open Call: Calling for individuals, but within a pre-defined set of potential participants (a hybrid between the previous two options)

These three options also help to structure the service types that OIAs offer when we add the type of information requested by the client: information about market needs or information about technical solutions:

 

OIAS chart 1
Table: Open Innovation Approaches and practical examples


 

Working with an OIA

Picking the right intermediary depends, first of all, on the type of task and the nature of the innovation problem. Not all OIAs are suited for every open innovation challenge. OIAs further differ with regard to the breadth, scope, and structure of their pool of potential participants, and the options for clients to control access to this pool and the interaction within a given project. Furthermore, outcomes of an OIA project can range from raw ideas to sophisticated concepts – and selecting an OIA very much depends on the expected outcome and preferred degree of outsourcing the OI function to the OIA.

From a client perspective, the OIA business has two major characteristics, distinguishing it from conventional innovation consultants. These two characteristics also should be key decision criteria when selecting an OIA:

First, software plays an essential part of any open innovation venture. Web 2.0 and social software technologies allow OIAs to operate globally and integrate large numbers of participants without high transaction cost. In 90 percent of all cases, OIAs offer a distinct software solution. Hence, selecting an OIA also means deciding whether the software solution should be implemented in-house (following a traditional license model) or using it as a web-service or via a hosted service of the OIA.

Secondly, OIAs build on the involvement of a community. OIAs connect clients through their communities with a variety of external actors, most of them are new and unknown to the client (this "looking out of the box" is exactly the value of open innovation). OIA services differ significantly regarding their community composition. In average, we find that OIAs have an existing pool of participants (their "community") of 20,000 members. But OIAs specializing on ideation or technical contests often have communities of more than 100,000 members. To join the pool of participants, prospective participants have to accept general terms and conditions, but in general do sign not a formal contract. This is a core difference of open innovation via OIAs compared to traditional forms of R&D networks or alliances.

Between communities, the general level of expertise of its members differs significantly among the different services. OIAs offering technical search services in form of technology scouting, for example, have access to high level expert communities, while OIAs focusing on ideation and concept generation often have a broad, very heterogeneous community of "average" consumers.

For the full picture, refer to The Market for Open Innovation: The 2013 RWTH Open Innovation Accelerator Survey. authored by Kathleen Diener & Frank Piller, 2nd edition, May 2013. Lulu Publishing: Raleigh, USA (available via study.open-innovation.com).

Check back from more updates and key results from the OIA 2013 market study!

 Just Released: Completely New 2013 Edition of Our Open Innovation Market Study tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e201901c518bfa970b 2013-05-18T14:00:56-04:00 2013-05-18T14:00:56-04:00 Fresh from the press! For the second time, our open innovation study explores that market of open innovation accelerators (OIA), organizations that help their clients to include external experts in all stages of an innovation project. Open innovation today has... Frank Piller

OIA_2013Fresh from the press! For the second time, our open innovation study explores that market of open innovation accelerators (OIA), organizations that help their clients to include external experts in all stages of an innovation project.

Open innovation today has become a core tool in innovation management. But which is the right method for open innovation? Which are the criteria to plan an open innovation project? Which intermediary or service provider has specific knowledge and expertise in, e.g., crowdsourcing, the lead user method, Netnography, idea contests, technology scouting, or broadcast search? This totally updated, 2013 edition report provides a comprehensive analysis of the providers and platforms for open innovation.

We take a detailed look on the methods, cost, project and community structures, and market size. Our purpose is to support strategic decisions when planning an open innovation venture. Managers will gain an overview of the intermediaries available for open innovation and will get advice how to identify partners for their project.

We invited more than 160 intermediaries to join our survey investigating the OIA’s business model and environment, productivity, services offered, project specifics, and characteristics of their participant pool. In addition, we asked about estimates for the development of the open innovation market. Besides a lot of highly interresting findings about the market for open innovation in general and the intermediary's role in it, we were also able to compile 188 detailed accelerator profiles.

In the following weeks, we will post a series of articles with selected findings from the market study!

The study is available via Lulu.com in both a paperback and an ebook version.

A preview can be found here.

 Hands-on Mass Customization Workshop with Joe Pine & Jim Gilmore tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2019101e33f51970c 2013-05-08T04:48:50-04:00 2013-05-08T04:49:51-04:00 A while ago we posted about the Hands On Workshop Series by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore. From what we have been told the events have been great and very well received so far (not that there would be reason... Frank Piller

PinegilmorehandsonA while ago we posted about the Hands On Workshop Series by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore.  From what we have been told the events have been great and very well received so far (not that there would be reason to expect anything else, given the hosts).

On May 30th there will be the 6th and last workshop in this series, focussing on the topic of "How to Mass Customize Your Offerings". Knowing you all, this might be pretty interesting to look into if you plan to be in the Minneapolis, MN, area at that time.

Here you can also find the official flyer with all relevant information. Enjoy!

Featured Companies from the MC500 (Part 24): Bamford Watch Department: If a Rolex Is Not Special Enough tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017eeae37bd2970d 2013-05-07T05:40:41-04:00 2013-05-17T05:47:38-04:00 In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly! Today: Great Idea, Nicely Done,... Frank Piller

MC500_Signet_2012In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember:  The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

 

Today: Great Idea, Nicely Done, Limited Target Group

Today's featured customizer stands out a bit. In fact, given the prices their products come at, mass customization might not be the first thing coming to mind.

The company in question is named Bamford Watch Department and sells custom watches. Nothing that special you say? Well, maybe not. Except these are more or less fully customizable Rolex (and other exclusive brand's) watches.

Bamford offers a nicely designed configurator that allows you to adjust about every visual detail on the dial of a number of exclusive watches. Minute and seconds hand, hour- and second markers, indices, logo, custom text, chronograph rings etc - whatever you have on the dial, you can customize it. They also offer a large number of pre-designed models for your chosing.

Now, given the fact that you will spend a nice amount of money on these, you might be worried about what happens to the warranty of your watch, given that it has to be opened and modified. Bamford promisses a solution here as well, though: While original warranty will be void, you get a full two year coverage from the vendor itself.

What remains to be said? Well, this is a fairly nice offer, especially if you are a watch-fan and want something that not everybody has. And, of course, have a five digit number of pounds to spend on it. While not all of us can do that, those who can should visit their website and see if there is something to their liking.

Bamford


Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data
 [Participate] Call for Papers for 3rd Quebec Seeks Solutions Conference Released tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017eeaaa9dba970d 2013-04-29T05:16:28-04:00 2013-04-29T05:16:28-04:00 The 3rd Quebec Seeks Solutions Conference will be held in Québec, Canada on 5-6 November 2013. As we have already posted about, this conference is a place where concrete problems of small, medium, and large companies will be discussed to... Frank Piller

EnmodeThe 3rd Quebec Seeks Solutions Conference will be held in Québec, Canada on 5-6 November 2013. As we have already posted about, this conference is a place where concrete problems of small, medium, and large companies will be discussed to deepen the understanding of the issue and to seek potential solutions.

The conference hosts have now published their call for papers to those who wish to submit to this event as an academic or a practitioner.  Deadline for abstracts is June 28th so if you are interested, get the full call here ( Download Call for Paper - Seeking solutions summit).

More information also on the official homepage.

[Participate] Konferenz Effizienter Staat 2013 | 15.-16. Mai | Berlin, Germany [In German] tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017eea85b3c7970d 2013-04-24T03:03:23-04:00 2013-04-24T03:03:23-04:00 In wenigen Wochen beginnt in Berlin die 16. Konferenz "Effizienter Staat" mit dem diesjährigen Motto: "Moderne Verwaltung: offen, vernetzt und effizient". Am zweiten Tag der Konferenz (16. Mai) findet parallel die 2. Open Government Data D-A-CH-LI-Konferenz (ODG) statt. Neben vielen... Frank Piller

OGD-KonferenzIn wenigen Wochen beginnt in Berlin die 16. Konferenz "Effizienter Staat" mit dem diesjährigen Motto: "Moderne Verwaltung: offen, vernetzt und effizient". Am zweiten Tag der Konferenz (16. Mai) findet parallel die 2. Open Government Data D-A-CH-LI-Konferenz (ODG) statt.

Neben vielen weiteren interessanten Referenten wird auch Prof. Dr. Frank T. Piller sprechen und sich der Frage widmen, ob Open Innovation in der öffentlichen Verwaltung als große Chance oder doch letztlich nur Utopie zu betrachten ist.

Das Gesamtprogramm beginnt am Mittwoch (15. Mai) um 9.00 Uhr im dbb forum berlin, Friedrichstraße 169-170 (Anfahrtsskizze unter www.effizienterstaat.eu), endet gegen 18.00 Uhr und wird am nächsten Tag um 9.00 Uhr fortgeführt (Ende gegen 17.15 Uhr).

Weitere Informationen zur Konferenz finden Sie bitte auf der offiziellen Website.

 [Interview] Don't Tell Stories, Seek Solutions: The Story of the Problem Solution Conferences tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017d42cc3549970c 2013-04-23T07:00:00-04:00 2013-04-20T13:16:46-04:00 We have been reporting on the format of teh "Seeks Solution" conferences before. The idea is both simple and surprisingly effective: turn a scientific conference upside down: Skip the presentation of successful research and undertakings and focus, together, on what... Frank Piller

En-mode-solutionsWe have been reporting on the format of teh "Seeks Solution" conferences before. The idea is both simple and surprisingly effective: turn a scientific conference upside down: Skip the presentation of successful research and undertakings and focus, together, on what is really interesting for everybody: challenges yet unsolved.

The event in question is, of course, the by now fairly popular series of "Seek Solutions" conferences.

Deutsch-cSince the first conference in Quebec, things have evolved and been refined. Christophe Deutsch of En Mode Solutions, the organization now planning and executing solution-seeking conferences in innovative hubs around the world, has kindly agreed to answer some of our questions on the concept, its evolution and the future - and how you can be part of it.

 

FTP: Christophe, your "seek solutions" program takes a slightly different approach to problem solving than usual. Can you explain in some brief words how it works and what makes it special?

CD: We have developed a 4-Step Process that has given, over the years, great results!

1 -Call for Problems: The promoter of the event asks his community to submit complex problems that defy the standard analyses of his experts in the field.

2 - Formulate Selected Problems: We help the promoter to select the problems most likely to garner interest at the event and to formulate them so that they can be more easily shared. An expert of the problem’s domain, called an ambassador in our case, is put in contact with the solution seeker. Just by asking some basic questions, the ambassador is able to help the solution seeker further define the problem and ensure that the description that will ultimately be posted on a web-based platform is sufficiently clear and broad.

3 - Disseminate to a wider community – Problem broadcast: We disseminate the problems to be addressed to a vast range of specialists in a variety of fields. They can provide a different outlook on the problems raised, ask preparatory questions and participate in the event. Broadcast is done through a web-based platform including as much information as possible, such as figures, references, or details of failed solutions.

Two strategies are employed during the problem-broadcast step. A general broadcasting approach ensures that everyone who thinks they could help has the opportunity to participate. A targeted broadcast to specialists based on expectations about what type of expertise might be relevant to a particular problem is also used in parallel.

4 – Seeking Solutions Events: The last step is what differentiates the Seeking Solutions approach from other open innovation techniques, because it involves a real event where non-virtual collaboration arises. Solution seekers and problem solvers come together during a full-day session to focus on the selected problems. Careful preparation is required to ensure maximum output from the event. The collaboration process is divided into three phases: i) divergence, ii) exploration, and iii) convergence. Our facilitation methods allow for significant and creative interaction with experts who are normally not part of the same networks, and take full advantage of the “cross-pollination” of brainpower effect.

You’ll be surprised to see that creative solutions have been found to your complex problems in environments completely different from your own.

FTP: From your website one can tell that you have been organizing a number of solution seeking conferences in the past. What did you learn from these? (How) did the concept evolve over time?

CD: The call for problems for the first event – Quebec Seeks Solutions (QSS) – was launched in June 2010. Ten problems were submitted by nine industrial companies from the Quebec City area. The problems were broadcasted online in early November 2010. On December 14, 2010, 175 people gathered at the Convention Centre in Quebec City to attend the first problem-solving conference (Quebec Seeks Solutions).

For this first event, the largest perceived gain was:

  • Networking outside the "normal" network,
  • The generation of new ideas for applications
  • A better understanding of the problem
  • Initiation of research contracts with real benefits and return on investment for the companies

A second edition of Quebec Seeks Solutions took place in May 2012. Nine solution-seeking companies and 162 problem solvers participated in the two-day event. The outcomes were as good as the first edition with some very nice success stories as a bonus.

In June 2012, we conducted a workshop on the same basis at the ISPIM Conference in Barcelona, Spain. The process was slightly adapted to the duration of the event and the context of the conference. The workshop lasted less than two hours and the call for problems was for innovation management issues only. Thirteen problems were submitted and 5 were selected for the workshop. The solution seekers appreciated the experience even though it only gave them a preview of what could be achieved in a full-day event.

What we first learned so far is that the intellectual-property issues that our detractors raise are not a problem, mainly because the event in itself is an exploration where everybody feels free to contribute. Intellectual-property challenges typically arise "downstream" from this initial exploration.

Secondly, there is a real value in local open innovation. Some people say “Why connect locally when you can connect easily to the world nowadays?” The answer is simple. Because a combination of open innovation and collaboration on a local scale brings most of the benefits… without the potential inconvenience of cultural differences! Often the seeker and the solver need to engage in collaborative research activities to achieve the solution. Here, a regional conference offers much better opportunities than a worldwide web platform.

Finally, it’s the importance of the collaboration process in itself. The animation of such a conference cannot be done in a conventional manner. The animators have to be experimented with large groups and able to adapt depending on what happens.

Our approach is in constant evolution and we still experiment during each event. For example at some point in 2012, we tried a two days event in order to see if the evening could bring some special collaborations or new ideas. And in November this year, we will introduce a technology push through a technology platform that local R&D centers possess in our Quebec Seeks Solutions event. This may give ideas for new problems or technology transfer and generate even more results!

FTP: You have three new conferences planned for 2013, in June, September and November. Can you tell us a bit about these? What to expect? Any big changes?

CD: Yes, indeed, the Seeks Solutions approach is spreading around!

  • 2nd ISPIM Seeks Solutions, June 18, 2013 – Helsinki, Finland. A large conference is a great place to explore problems because you have experts from all around the world that can participate. I predict that you should see a lot more of these workshops in the future in numerous conferences because they offer a great way to collaborate and network!
  • Polymères en mode solutions, September 26, 2013 – St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada.  Sponsored by the Quebec Plastic Industry Consortium tihis one day event will focus on this industrial sector only. Plastic companies will submit problems they experiment but we may also have other industrial companies that submit problems which could be solved by the plastic industry.
  • 3rd Quebec Seeks Solutions, November 5-6, 2013 - This is where it all started! And in addition this year is the Seeking Solutions Summit - Methods and Policies Creating a Local Ecosystem for Technology Transfer, Collaboration, and Local Innovation. This is where we hope the open innovation world community will meet this fall!

Several other events are in the midst for Canadian cities, industries and conferences! Stay tuned!

FTP: Pretending I was a company with a problem I would like to have solved. What do I do to profit from "seek solutions"?

CD: It’s very easy. You submit your problem to any upcoming event we have on our calendar at www.enmodesolutions.com/en or contact Yahya Baby (yb@enmodesolutions.com) to discuss about holding your own event in your area.

FTP: In my understanding you are offering to organize problem solving conferences internationally, not only in Canada. How can communities or administrations contact you for talks about hosting a conference? How does the organizational process work?

CD: Yes our team is ready and eager to work a lot more overseas even though we are very busy as it is. The best way to engage into this process is to contact Yahya Baby via email yb@enmodesolutions.com or by phone at 581-996-6778. Once we become involved, we help the promoters organizing a successful event every step of the way.

FPT: From your experiences so far, do you think that this and other forms of open problem solution concepts are already well-accepted? Do they work? Or: what needs still to be done to unleash their full potential?

CD: Open innovation and open problem solving approaches require a change of mindset to reach full potential. A change of mindset most often requires a pain or an enormous challenge to work it’s way. The current economical context in Europe and North America is a good enabler I would think! Because status quo is not an answer for anyone, in any type of industry and in any country right now!

Many problems that the companies are facing today are complex because they mix technical, environmental, social, and political issues. To face this growing complexity, classical problem-solving methodologies are no longer appropriate. The Seeking Solutions approach has the potential to address the complex challenges of the next decade and we believe that it can help us to migrate from a collection of intelligences to a real collective intelligence. The next step is to encourage more and more companies to try local open innovation and to convince local governments to support this movement. 

FTP: Christophe, many thanks for these extensive insights into your visions. It will certainly be a plasure to be part of a future solution seeking event again and I wish you all the best for this venture!

If you are interested in more information about En Mode Solutions and the conference format - or want to get in touch about hosting a conference yourself - please see the official website.

 Open Co-Creation Dinner in the ELAT Region - 14 May 2013 tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017d42f883a2970c 2013-04-20T13:00:36-04:00 2013-04-20T13:00:36-04:00 Creating an open mindset for collaborative innovation: Dinner Networking & Co-Creation Event - 14 May 2013 The Eindhoven-Leuven-Aken (ELAT) region is one of the most powerful innovative and high tech regions in the world. Enlarge your network and get to... Frank Piller

Creating an open mindset for collaborative innovation: Dinner Networking & Co-Creation Event - 14 May 2013

ImportAOLENewsv41553575The Eindhoven-Leuven-Aken (ELAT) region is one of the most powerful innovative and high tech regions in the world. Enlarge your network and get to know CEOs and Innovation Directors of this ELAT-region by learning about co-creation in an interactive way!

In a joint dinner-workshop event between several industry associations in the ELAT region, we will discuss different approaches to co-create with customers and users.

But beyond implementing some tools, successful co-creation demands a set of internal capabilities of your organization to transfer the external input into successful innovation.

We will hence also discuss how to create an open mindset for collaborative innovation yourself. Tuesday ,14 May 2013, 17:00 - 22:00 at C-Mine 10 bus 2, 3600 Genk, Belgium More: Official Website and Registration Form

Program

17.00 Registration and reception
17.20 Welcome Wim Dries, Mayor, City of Genk
17.30 Find your personal innovation challenge Guided by Prof. Dr. Frank T. Piller
18.30 3 way dinner
18.50 Strategic partnerships, the future of innovation Jos Pinte, Director Innovation, Agoria
19.00 BiELAT, who are we ? Rob Janssen, chairman, Foundation BiELAT
19.30 Success story of Future Sketching with ELAT partners Stephane Berghmans, R&D Manager, TE Connectivity
20.00 Co-creation, it is more than you think Prof. Dr. Frank T. Piller
21.00 Co-creation design challenge, All participants, guided by Prof. Dr. Frank T. Piller
22.00     End
[Featured Research] Technology Innovation Management Review on Local Open Innovation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017d427e1f21970c 2013-04-09T05:45:00-04:00 2013-04-03T15:48:04-04:00 This month's edition of Technology Innovation Management Review focusses on Local Open Innovation. There are some really interesting articles featured in this issue, which is available as a PDF file from the official website as well. It especially provides great... Frank Piller

TIMR_logoThis month's edition of Technology Innovation Management Review focusses on Local Open Innovation. There are some really interesting articles featured in this issue, which is available as a PDF file from the official website as well. It especially provides great background information on the "Seeks Solutions" (or "problem conference", as I use to call it) approach!!! To experience this method live, participate at the ISPIM Seeks Solutions!

 Mass Customization at HannoverMesse - Project KUMAC Featured in #HM13 Science Hall tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017c3855175f970b 2013-04-04T04:18:34-04:00 2013-04-04T04:18:34-04:00 From 8th to 12th of April 2013, famous trade show HannoverMesse will take place in Hannover, Germany. Are you going to be there? Great! So will I. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will have a large... Frank Piller

BannerFrom 8th to 12th of April 2013, famous trade show  HannoverMesse will take place in Hannover, Germany. Are you going to be there? Great! So will I.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will have a large exhibition stand in a prominent spot (hall 2, stand C24) and has invited my research group at RWTH Aachen University to join them. We will present the latest findings from our research project KUMAC which is being funded by the BMBF.

I will be there on Monday, 8th, during the afternoon. Of course, members of our project team will be present throughout the week. So if you are going to visit any the largest industry tradeshow of the world, make sure to stop by! 

The objective of the KUMAC project is to develop new methods for mass customization providers in the German retail market. These methods support an increase in productivity and value creation potential of these retailers.

At HannoverMesse we will simulate the prototype of an interactive value-creation process in mass customization, using KUMAC technology to demonstrate its potential to increase both effectiveness and efficiency. In detail we will show and expain:

  • The Live-Help-System connecting online-offline configuration,
  • The Tablet Configuation Software,
  • 3D-Scanner and Softwaretools as well as
  • RFID-Technology for mass customization.

 

 Aalborg University to Host Next MCPC in Feb. 2014 tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017c38553cc6970b 2013-04-04T04:12:31-04:00 2013-04-04T04:12:31-04:00 In February we posted our open letter about the sad fact that we could not organize and host this year's MCPC conference due to capacity constraints. Many of you have contacted me about alternative ways to keep the MCPC alive... Frank Piller

Aalborg_NyTorv_2004_wikimedia_commonsIn February we posted our open letter about the sad fact that we could not organize and host this year's MCPC conference due to capacity constraints. Many of you have contacted me about alternative ways to keep the MCPC alive and today I am glad to announce that the Mass Customization Research Group at Aalborg University has commited to hosting the conference in 2014.

Below please find soem extracts from their announcement letter, including a call to feedback for everybody interested in actively participating in the shaping of this conference.

We are really glad that there is so much dedication to the project within the MC community and hope that MCPC will continue to be a corner stone of the international MC family.

Dear MC Community,

It was with some regret that we received the message from our good colleague Frank Piller and his hardworking team, that he and his organization for different reasons will not be able to arrange and host MCPC in 2013.

We, the Mass Customization Group at Aalborg University, have decided to get more engaged in the current process under certain conditions; therefore we address this formal letter to the MCPC community with support from Frank Piller and Mitchell Tseng.

First of all, Aalborg would be able, willing, and delighted to host the MCPC 2014 in Denmark on Feb 4-7, 2014 to offer the MC community a continuous place to meet and exchange ideas.

We believe that the biannual MCPC conference still has great value for MC researchers and practitioners and we owe our friends a lot of credit for the work done in previous MCPC conferences.

But changes are needed and we believe that this is also what Frank & Co are expressing with their message last week. ...

We will suggest a very simple way of organizing the future MCPC event, by forming 2 committees: (self-nominating):

The International Organizing Committee has the obligation to arrange each conference. This committee has at least 6 members, where 3 members are from the organization/research group hosting the upcoming event, 1 member from past organizer organization, and 1 member coming from the organization to be in charge of the next upcoming event. The members of The Organizing Committee are presented in the closing session of each MCPC conference as well as the location of next conference. The chair of the Organizer Committee is held by one of the 3 "hosting" members.

The International Scientific Committee has a minimum of 9 members, of who 2 members are from the hosting organization and the rest are representatives from the general MCPC community. The Scientific Committee is expected as advisory partner for the hosting organization in selections of topics, keynote speakers and themes for the upcoming MCPC, as well as the members will be asked as needed to assist as chair for sessions, reviewing, chair group of reviewers etc.

And we ask you to become involved:

RESPONSE DEADLINE: 19th of APRIL

  1. Let us know whether you believe in a future global MCPC and the plan sketched above. 
  2. If you would be interested in being a member of the Scientific Committee please let us know.
  3. If your organization would be interested in hosting the MCPC 2015 conference, please let us know.

Please send your response to: kni@m-tech.aau.dk

In case we are getting enough thumbs up, positive feedback, and candidates for the Scientific Committee, we will immediately start organizing the next MCPC and keep you informed

Mass Customization RESEARCH group

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Aalborg University, Denmark, Kaj A. Joergensen, Thomas D. Brunoe, Stig B. Taps and Kjeld Nielsen

 

 

Aalborg MC Group
The group currently consists of four senior researchers including Kaj A. Jørgensen, Stig B. Taps, Kjeld Nielsen & Thomas D. Brunø and three Ph.D. students, Steffen N Jørgensen, Simon Haahr Storbjerg and Tufail Habib.
 [Interview] Matt Peterson of Big Shot Bikes: Customizing the Fixed Gear Trend tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83453b37069e2017c384ea2ec970b 2013-04-03T15:43:49-04:00 2013-04-03T15:43:50-04:00 With plenty of bling and over-featuring of many products, in many industries now a counter-trend has started to emerge: "back to basics", advocating simplicity over sheer amounts of features. This also has happend in the bike industry. While traditional bikes... Frank Piller
BigshotbikesWith plenty of bling and over-featuring of many products, in many industries now a counter-trend has started to emerge: "back to basics", advocating simplicity over sheer amounts of features.

This also has happend in the bike industry. While traditional bikes with many gears are certainly still in high demand, the opposite side of the scale has a growing fanbase as well: The single-gear bike, or the "Fixie". Being a popular and trendy product, it was just a question of time until somebody specialized in offering customized fixies to a growing customer base.

Matt Peterson Big Shot BikesOne such vendor is Big Shot Bikes. The Fort Collins, CO based company has been founded and is beeing run by Matt Peterson who we met for an interview on this special sector of the mass customization market and his role in it, his views on MC in general and the benefits of only having one gear.

FTP: Matt, you are the owner and founder of Big Shot Bikes. Can you tell our reader a bit about yourself, your background and your passion for quality bikes?

MP: Well, growing up in Colorado I had always been active in the outdoors; traditionally I am a software engineer by trade and I had worked for quite some time for a large telecom company. Having rode out the tech and telecom bubble, I had become burnt out on the corporate environment.  So in 2009, I saw an opportunity to merge two of my passions, software and cycling. I had noticed a trend emerging in single speed bikes with bright colors that people had built up themselves. I thought this was a natural fit for customization. With a small initial investment, I dove in, leveraging my skills in software and ecommerce to create a company and brand that is doing quite well and gaining market share. 

FTP: Big Shot Bikes offers customized bicycles. While there is competition on that market, what is special about your bikes?

MP: Hands down the most appealing part about our bikes is the customization and sense of style that comes with owning one of our bikes.

People love the opportunity to create a design that matches their own personality. We get quite a few emails from customers telling us how they have been complimented on their bike and how they take a sense of pride in the color scheme that they created.

FTP: What makes a single speed or fixed gear bike so desirable? Does it not limit you to have only one gear?

MP: Single speed bikes have become a recent cultural phenomenon. Sure, there are some limitations to having one gear, but there are also advantages. The simplicity of going back to basics is what is drawing many riders. No gears to tune or clicking derailleur to worry about.  This low maintenance factor means you can just get on and ride.

FTP: Who is your main customer group? Are these bikes just for the younger ones amongst us?

MP: The majority of our customers are definitely younger, mostly college aged. But we sell to all age groups. In fact, we recently sold a bike to an 81 year old ex-racer in Arizona. So really our bikes are for anyone with a sense of style and just wants a fun bike to ride, no matter what age or background.

FTP: Can you outline your customization, ordering and delivery in a few sentences? How does everything work together?

MP: Sure, our system is designed to be fully integrated with our inventory management system. If a color or part is available on the build tool, that means it is currently in stock.  Once an item becomes out of stock, it immediately disappears from the customization tool; this is critical in being able to effectively fill orders. Once an order is captured, our inventory system is updated and the order goes through a series of status change.  Customers will receive three notifications: one to confirm the order, another to let them know the bike is being built.  The final notification is integrated into our shipping software and a final notification containing the tracking information for the bike. Lastly we integrate right in with our shipping software and tracking provided once the bike is shipped. We also have the ability to track and attach customer support tickets to orders that have shipped just in case we have any issues once the customer receives the bike.

FTP: Especially interesting for our non-US readers: Do you deliver worldwide?

MP: We do. We ship to just about any country that FedEx will service via international economy air. We have shipped to most of Europe and a few more exotic locations such as Egypt and South Africa. Granted, the shipping charges are steep, averaging about $200 USD for international shipping.

FTP: What do you think will the future hold for the mass customization landscape? Will it stay a trend, become a standard or even redefine how we sell and buy products in the future?

MP: Honestly, I feel it will stay a trend, or more appropriately a new established niche in commerce. Mass customization is  ideal for direct to consumer sales model. But I feel that traditional product manufacture and distribution will remain the dominant form of commerce while mass customization will supplement it.

FTP: What are your plans for the coming five years?

MP: If the next five years are anything like the last three years, we will continue to see strong growth in both our brand and business. We plan to diversify our product line offering more bike models and styles. From a technology standpoint, we have invested in HTML5 becoming the standard in web based development and will continue to stay on top of technology that will allow us to offer the best customization experience we can.

FTP: Some of our readers might be looking for a job opportunity in your branch. Are you hiring?

MP: We hire seasonal bike builders each spring/summer, but these positions tend to be filled by college students looking for temporary work.

But where we do have significant opportunities is with international distribution. We are continually looking for individuals or companies that feel they could effectively sell and distribute our bicycles in their country or region. We have designed our customization tool and website to be easily translated into almost any language. So the opportunity exists to establish international distribution points and country specific versions of our site.

Thank you very much for the interview, Matt! It will be interesting to see whether your predictions regarding MC as a trend hold true in the future or not. In any case, best of luck for your business!

And here are some really nice impressions of single gear bikes and the configuration process (even on iPad) in the official video demo: