Desenvolvimento de metodologia para identificação de oportunidades de inovação tecnológica em tratamento de superfícies de jóias folheadas
Abstract
Technological innovation has been greatly discussed worldwide for its central
role in economy. One important factor to innovation is the identification of
technological opportunities. Information on customer requirements is particularly
important on identifying new opportunities for it leads to a much safer way to
new product launch success. In this context, the objective of the present study
is to develop and to apply a methodology capable of identifying technological
innovation opportunities focused on customer s needs. This methodology has
used a well known product development technique called Quality Function
Development (QFD) as one of the analytical tools of Competitive Intelligence
(CI). Other analytical tools used were: Industry analysis, SWOT and patent
analysis. The developed CI cycle based methodology was then applied in
Eletrochemical, one of the enterprises of the cluster established in Limeira city,
which is the greatest South American producer and exporter of plated jewellery.
The innovation opportunities identification focused on surface treatment
technologies, taken as one of the key technologies of that Industrial
Agglomerate. The results showed a tendency for cleaner processes usage
within surface treatment sector that can be applied in plated jewellery. From
these emerge technologies such as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD),
nanotechnology based process, or even galvanization baths that substitute
cyanide or metals for nickel solutions. The identified technologies and
complementary information not only built up the basis of a technological follow
up but also guided Eletrochemical decision on planning an internal R&D
department. The results proved the proposed methodology capacity to
identifying potential technological innovation, as well as its strategic relevance
as a basis for decision on R&D and technological management.