innovation database

Product innovations are mainly based on a future-oriented alignment of technology push and market pull. The alignment of both aspects with regard to conformity to the corporate strategy is carried out in the context of the strategic product and technology planning, which is the initial point within the product design process. The integral element of this paper is a data base-system which allows performing the tasks of strategic product and technology planning. In particular, information about technologies, product ideas and market segments are represented and related with each other. Typical applications are the design of morphologic boxes an innovation roadmaps.

Strategic product planning and strategic technology planning is more important than ever. This planning is based upon the anticipation of market and technology developments. The article shows how new technologies are taken up and how they can be combined to coherent technology strategies. These help the companies to further develop the product range and to position themselves advantageously in the competition of tomorrow. A consistent example from the automotive lighting engineering underlines the high feasibility of the methodology.