Front-end innovation at alliedsignal and alcoa

Heightened expectations for growth from internal technology suggest a requi rement to improve the productivity of the "fuzzy front-end" of the innovati on process. Its description as an organizational process should mesh with t hat of product development, as characterized by "stage-gate" concurrent eng ineering. With this in mind a "Front-End Innovation Process" (FEIP) was est ablished, first at AlliedSignal and later at Alcoa. Both processes were des igned to meet business objectives and be able to drive "game-changing," tec hnology-based, breakthrough opportunities. Both were based on a "fast-failu re" model, derived from lean manufacturing thinking Based on the experience at Alcoa and AlliedSignal, it is concluded that the integration of custome r needs, future market directions, and technology evolution, with a formal idea generation process like FEIP, is achievable and increasingly necessary .