Open Innovation Success Stories: Matt Hlavin, Thogus, Interview

At Thogus, innovation is all about visibility. New employees are trained on identifying areas for improvement by watching a video of how the shop floor is set up or how a certain job is processed. Then they're asked to identify: Why is this inefficient? What's good? What's bad?

"As they see what the problem is, the ah-ha light comes on," says Hlavin, who revamped his shop floor with employee input. To maintain that open environment after orientation, employees will be able to use an iPad at each machine to access YouTube videos of Thogus's processes and leave comments.

They can also jot ideas on the office walls, most of which Hlavin has coated in dry erase paint. That way, even if an idea isn't acted on, it's visible. "If you want to keep an open innovative culture, you have to see the ideas," Hlavin says. "They may not have a great idea today, but that idea -- two, three years from now -- becomes pertinent."

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• Matt
• Hlavin
• Thogus
• Polymer
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