Tuesday, 06 December 2011 00:00
VMEC Announces 4th Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute
Randolph Center, Vermont – The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced that it will be hosting its fourth Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute on March 19 – 21, 2012 at The Woodstock Inn and Resort, Woodstock, Vermont.
The first Vermont Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute (IELI) training event was held in Burlington in May 2010, followed by two additional sold out events – one in February 2011 in Woodstock and the other in August of this year in Essex. Innovation Engineering is about applying the discipline of engineering to innovation. It teaches business leaders a proven, systematic approach for Increasing the Speed of Innovation (up to 6X) and Reducing Risk (30 – 80%) leading to more profitable growth. This unique training event is an intensive 3-day graduate level program designed for senior managers in business, government, non-profit organizations, academia and entrepreneurs. It is equally vital to inventors, researchers and economic development professionals.
The goal of the IELI is for attendees to learn a proven ‘System’ and gain the confidence to lead Innovation within their organization. The IELI is the primary education component for the Innovation Engineering Management System (IEMS), a disciplined process that can be used to accelerate both EXISTING and NEW projects and profitable solutions for Very Important Problems and Very Important Opportunities. Innovations might be in new Customers, Markets, Products & Services, Processes and Systems (production, sales, operations, sustainability, etc.). Valuable connections with other company thought leaders are made at IELI. During the evening sessions, participants practice applying what they have learned to their enterprise and leave IELI with an action plan to accelerate existing and new ideas.
Two separate Georgia Tech studies (2008 & 2010) found that innovation is THE MOST profitable primary business strategy compared to low cost, fast delivery, voice of the customer or quality strategies. In fact, the 3-year average profit margin of companies with a primary strategy of innovation is over 50% higher than for companies competing with a primary strategy of low price.
Patricia Giavara, VMEC Assistant Director and Innovation Engineering Black Belt, explains what leaders get from participating in IELI:
“Most innovation training events and experts tell you what others have done to be successful with innovation and provide general advice on the topic. The Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute is different because it teaches you HOW to do innovation, gets you started by applying it to your company, and provides on-line access to innovation tools after the training. At IELI you learn a process for innovation grounded in the scientific method and based on research and analysis of thousands of ideas and process data from hundreds of project teams. Every validated tool for creating ideas is taught, along with a proven system for communicating ideas, and the fastest known method for determining whether your idea has the potential to be successful or if it should be killed. IELI and the Innovation Engineering Management System will help your organization to increase speed and decrease risk of innovation whether you haven’t implemented a new idea since the start of the company or your business is already successful with innovation. If you are willing to lead a strategy of innovation, willing to say “I don’t know” and gather stimulus, “I need help” and ask for advice, and “I’m willing to fail” and learn from quick tests, then Innovation Engineering can make you able to lead innovation by providing a reliable system with proven tools and methods to Create, Communicate, and Commercialize ideas.”
International innovation expert and entrepreneur Doug Hall will be leading and teaching this event. Founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch and Eureka! Ranch International, Doug is a highly respected leader who is deeply committed to helping American businesses and organizations succeed in today’s global economy. For more than 25 years, the Eureka! companies have served Fortune 500 clients like Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, HP, and American Express, directly through its corporate consulting group. Doug is a best-selling author of five books on courage, creativity, and innovation, including Jump Start Your Business Brain named “One of the 100 best business books of all time” by business book expert Jack Covert.
Partners actively supporting and promoting the 4th Vermont Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute in Vermont, alongside VMEC, Eureka! Ranch International and NIST MEP include The Vermont Business Roundtable, Norwich University, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, the Vermont Training Program of the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, the Vermont Technology Council, Vermont Technical College, the 12 Regional Development Corporations of Vermont, and the New Hampshire MEP Center.
The registration fee for the 3-day event is $1995. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (VMEC’s national affiliate) has negotiated a $1,000 discount for VMEC, NH MEP and other MEP Center clients and partners. In addition, employees of Vermont companies in Manufacturing, Healthcare, Telecom, Information Technology and Environmental industries may be eligible for a $495 rebate through a working partnership with the Vermont Training Program (VTP) within the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. Eligible attendees must comply with required criteria in order to receive this rebate. To take advantage of discounts that may apply to you and inquire about additional training funds, please contact VMEC Marketing and Training Manager Robynn Albert at [email protected] or (802) 793-2078.
The registration price includes all course materials and breakfast and lunch for each day of the conference. Participants will receive 3.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of Maine for their participation in the program if they choose to apply.
To register for the March 19 – 21, 2012 conference or for further information, visit http://www.ieli-vermont.mepevents.com or contact VMEC at (802) 728-1432.