Innovation - discussion
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2002 12:00 am
Someone had posted a question on Bladeforums’ General forum about innovative companies. In a thread like that involving companies, I feel better not getting involved. I don’t think they are looking for company input, but it did set me to thinking, especially with the definitions posted by Serg & others. I’d like to thank those participating in the Bladeforums thread for spawning this thread.
I thought that it might be an interesting topic of conversation “at home” on the Spyderco forums. It also made me think about what Spyderco has done in the past year that was new, and how that might compare with other knife companies.
For definitions or classes of innovation, I have listed some that came to mind. I’m sure that you can add, subtract or modify the concepts.
1. Revolutionary – Innovation that causes major changes in an industry or begins new trends.
2. Evolutionary – Innovation that alters, improves or causes changes in keeping with the direction of the trend.
3. Trends as opposed to designs – A group of ideas building off of each other while adding refinements to the concept trend.
4. Refinement – an improvement, however small that evolves a design or trend.
5. New design – an innovation where a new pattern, size or material is being used but there is otherwise no new idea involved. Still requiring some innovative effort.
6. Sum total of “new” examples of the above in a given year. (a measure to determine a company’s effort to “improve”<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.
With the above definitions, I “remembered” the past year at Spyderco. Significant changes in management and restructuring same took the bulk of our effort. In spite of that adversity, Spyderco managed a few “new” things in 2002.
Some of these accomplishments are just coming out in Dec ’02 so whether or not these are thought of as ’02 late or early ‘03
1. Cobra hood – introduced on the Salsa – I would classify this as evolutionary in that it combined the opening hole with the disc concept into a synthesis. Creating a “thumb rest” was the “evo” result of the blend.
2. Integral Compression Lock – This also came out on the Salsa. - I think the integral [part is “evo” to the “New Lock Trend” and a “Refinement” of the Compression lock.
3. The Wire Clothing Clip – Introduced on the Salsa as well – “evo” on the “Clip Trend”.
4. Phantom Lock – Introduced on the MeerKat – I think that this is just a ”new design”. The lock concept has been around, as has the “Navigator” pattern.
5. Pride – a “new” non-locking folder (slip joint) using the basic Navigator pattern – The flags or logos could be considered “novel”, but otherwise, it is a “new design”
6. Jester - A “new design” based on “refinements” of the Ladybug – The “refinements” were significant enough to cause a “new design”.
7. Ultra fine ceramic Triangles – a “refinement” of the Sharpmaker
8. Diamond triangles – a “refinement” of the Sharpmaker
9. The Lum Tanto Fixed Blade – a “refinement” of an earlier design by Bob Lum
10. Temperance Fixed Blade – A “new Design” from Spyderco
11. SPOT Fixed blade – a “new design” from Spyderco & Fred Perrin. One also might call it a refinement of the Perrin “laGriffe” or an “evo” to the “neck knife trend”.
12. Janich “Ronin” – a “new design”. Could also be call “evo” or a “refinement” of the “Neck knife trend”
13. Kiwi – a “new design”. Perhaps a “refinement” to the “Gent’s folder Trend”
14. Rescue 93mm – a “refinement” of an existing design.
15. The Lil’ Temperance – intro’d in late ’01 – Perhaps, along with the Salsa and Meerkat, contributing to the beginning of the concept “Big Little Knife Trend”.
16. Impala – a Scott design – a folding guthook that is buried in the handle. A “new design” or “refinement” of folding hunters.
17. SpyderHawk – a “new design”.
18. The WTC project – a “new design”, a “new lock” (listed below), The acquisition and processing of the steel, The change to another “new design”. All in all, a considerable project.
19. The USA Native changing from CPM-S60V to CPM-S30V (current run). A “refinement” to the Native design.
20. The Maddox Fixed blade – a “new design” perhaps an “Evo” in the industry for handicapped humans.
21. The Ball Bearing Lock – a “new design” in locks. Certainly a “refinement” or even “evo” in the “New Lock Trend”
22. Very custom Mosaic Damascus being used on a production knife – Ed Schempp’s skill made available is at least a “refinement”.
All in all, I would have to say that Spyderco has been quite busy of the past year. We also have more than 10 “innovative” designs in line for ’03. The “look back” was interesting.
Soooooo………
What are some of the “innovations” that have come out in the past year?
SOG’s new auto – a “new design” and “evo” in the Auto Trend”.
Benchmade’s new McHenry / Williams lock – a “new design” and an “evo” on the “new Lock Trend”.
What else?
sal
I thought that it might be an interesting topic of conversation “at home” on the Spyderco forums. It also made me think about what Spyderco has done in the past year that was new, and how that might compare with other knife companies.
For definitions or classes of innovation, I have listed some that came to mind. I’m sure that you can add, subtract or modify the concepts.
1. Revolutionary – Innovation that causes major changes in an industry or begins new trends.
2. Evolutionary – Innovation that alters, improves or causes changes in keeping with the direction of the trend.
3. Trends as opposed to designs – A group of ideas building off of each other while adding refinements to the concept trend.
4. Refinement – an improvement, however small that evolves a design or trend.
5. New design – an innovation where a new pattern, size or material is being used but there is otherwise no new idea involved. Still requiring some innovative effort.
6. Sum total of “new” examples of the above in a given year. (a measure to determine a company’s effort to “improve”<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.
With the above definitions, I “remembered” the past year at Spyderco. Significant changes in management and restructuring same took the bulk of our effort. In spite of that adversity, Spyderco managed a few “new” things in 2002.
Some of these accomplishments are just coming out in Dec ’02 so whether or not these are thought of as ’02 late or early ‘03
1. Cobra hood – introduced on the Salsa – I would classify this as evolutionary in that it combined the opening hole with the disc concept into a synthesis. Creating a “thumb rest” was the “evo” result of the blend.
2. Integral Compression Lock – This also came out on the Salsa. - I think the integral [part is “evo” to the “New Lock Trend” and a “Refinement” of the Compression lock.
3. The Wire Clothing Clip – Introduced on the Salsa as well – “evo” on the “Clip Trend”.
4. Phantom Lock – Introduced on the MeerKat – I think that this is just a ”new design”. The lock concept has been around, as has the “Navigator” pattern.
5. Pride – a “new” non-locking folder (slip joint) using the basic Navigator pattern – The flags or logos could be considered “novel”, but otherwise, it is a “new design”
6. Jester - A “new design” based on “refinements” of the Ladybug – The “refinements” were significant enough to cause a “new design”.
7. Ultra fine ceramic Triangles – a “refinement” of the Sharpmaker
8. Diamond triangles – a “refinement” of the Sharpmaker
9. The Lum Tanto Fixed Blade – a “refinement” of an earlier design by Bob Lum
10. Temperance Fixed Blade – A “new Design” from Spyderco
11. SPOT Fixed blade – a “new design” from Spyderco & Fred Perrin. One also might call it a refinement of the Perrin “laGriffe” or an “evo” to the “neck knife trend”.
12. Janich “Ronin” – a “new design”. Could also be call “evo” or a “refinement” of the “Neck knife trend”
13. Kiwi – a “new design”. Perhaps a “refinement” to the “Gent’s folder Trend”
14. Rescue 93mm – a “refinement” of an existing design.
15. The Lil’ Temperance – intro’d in late ’01 – Perhaps, along with the Salsa and Meerkat, contributing to the beginning of the concept “Big Little Knife Trend”.
16. Impala – a Scott design – a folding guthook that is buried in the handle. A “new design” or “refinement” of folding hunters.
17. SpyderHawk – a “new design”.
18. The WTC project – a “new design”, a “new lock” (listed below), The acquisition and processing of the steel, The change to another “new design”. All in all, a considerable project.
19. The USA Native changing from CPM-S60V to CPM-S30V (current run). A “refinement” to the Native design.
20. The Maddox Fixed blade – a “new design” perhaps an “Evo” in the industry for handicapped humans.
21. The Ball Bearing Lock – a “new design” in locks. Certainly a “refinement” or even “evo” in the “New Lock Trend”
22. Very custom Mosaic Damascus being used on a production knife – Ed Schempp’s skill made available is at least a “refinement”.
All in all, I would have to say that Spyderco has been quite busy of the past year. We also have more than 10 “innovative” designs in line for ’03. The “look back” was interesting.
Soooooo………
What are some of the “innovations” that have come out in the past year?
SOG’s new auto – a “new design” and “evo” in the Auto Trend”.
Benchmade’s new McHenry / Williams lock – a “new design” and an “evo” on the “new Lock Trend”.
What else?
sal