Innovation – A new approach to an old theme

Studies and articles from institutes specializing in the market indicate that packaging industries are—and will increasingly be—pressured to create cheaper and more innovative alternatives. The goal is to develop alternatives through technology that bring benefits to the process and offer distinct advantages to the customer’s product both at the time of choice and at the time of purchase.

This mindset has become a fundamental guideline in today’s industry. Not only the manufacturer but the entire supply chain is deeply connected to this mission. For this to succeed, we have created a series of needs—each with an infinite number of justifications.

We created the era of technological industry driven by the 4.0 update, supported by more modern manufacturing concepts, and through a lot of research new materials were developed. We’ve entered the era of technological industry, driven by the 4.0 update, supported by modern manufacturing concepts. Through extensive research, new materials have been developed. In short, we’ve created a parallel world.

This doesn’t mean that all these innovative tools (in the sense of incorporating new actions) are unnecessary. On the contrary, they are crucial to nourishing the company with results. However, the true essence of innovation can often be interpreted with incremental differences.

Being innovative requires much more practice than theory. It involves aiming higher without necessarily relying on great talents to execute it. Innovation means conceptualizing a project, building a model, engaging with stakeholders, and adjusting so that the result benefits everyone. When we have the drive to create something, it must go through stages of realization, backed by positive reasoning. This way, everyone in the production chain will benefit from the idea. Innovation is, therefore, the sum of creativity, practice, and results.

However, it’s important to emphasize that innovating doesn’t necessarily mean being unprecedented. Innovation is a state of mind that must permeate all areas of the company. It should be present at all management and collaborative levels. Innovation needs to manifest itself daily, not just when implementing a new project for a client. To truly innovate, a company must foster an environment of innovation, establish a culture around it, and, above all, have management focused on driving innovation.

I believe that to effectively innovate, a company must maintain a specialized team dedicated to preparing and conducting new (innovation) projects. This team should collaboratively prepare strategies, ideas, resources, marketing, and the practical application of concepts, techniques, and all available technologies and resources. It’s also essential to consider the possibilities that the market offers to meet all the critical requirements of the supply chain.

Ultimately, whether or not a company innovates can be the deciding factor in the sustainability of its products and, in more critical cases, the company’s long-term presence in the market. Innovation is, after all, management driven by the effective use of both human and technical resources in the company. Good management of these resources will create lasting opportunities, ensuring a continuous and healthy supply chain.

Álvaro João Pressanto
Market Consulting – Trombini Packaging S.A.