Hear about Goodyear’s very successful story. Learn about the lean principles that work well in the innovation creation process. Discover the challenges and failures along the journey.
While the application of lean principles to manufacturing processes is becoming standard practice, lean applications in R&D, product development or innovation has been much less popular. Discover the benefits a company can gain by using lean in R&D, which can be much larger that the benefits gained in manufacturing. The application of lean principles to the "fuzzy front end" or the creative part of the innovation process will surprise executives and lean practitioners alike.
Goodyear is one of the world’s leading tire companies, with one of the most recognizable brand names and operations. Together with its U.S. and international subsidiaries and joint ventures, Goodyear develops, manufactures, markets and distributes tires for most applications. It also manufactures and markets rubber-related chemicals for various applications. Goodyear manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries. www.goodyear.com
Norbert Majerus is Goodyear’s lean champion in research and development. He has implemented a principles-based lean product development process at the three Global Innovation Centers of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Majerus recently published his first book, Lean-driven Innovation. He has a master’s degree in chemistry from the Universitaet des Saarlandes, Saarbruecken, Germany.
