3m Case Analysis
Case Analysis- 3M Corporation
Case Analysis- 3M: Profile of an Innovating Company Introduction Relevant Facts The next invention was the wetordry waterproof sandpaper, which came about when an ink manufacturing named Francis Okie asked for samples of every mineral supply in the house. Mr. Okie was persuaded to join 3M as the company first product developer. The wetordry found immediate acceptance in automobile plants and repair shops. The next critical event occurred in 1925 when Dick Drew a young laboratory technician was sent to deliver sandpaper samples to an auto repair shop for testing seeing the problem that workers were having refinishing the new two-tone paint jobs, Drew began to work with sandpaper adhesives, developing a paper coating that held tightly but stripped off easily. This was the evaluation of masking tape which quickly found acceptance. While 3M sales force continued to relay on customer’s needs to the company expanding lab technicians adapted the abrasive and tape product line to a variety of applications. DuPont’s newly introduced cellophane with adhesive was the most important experiment, it was needed for a moisture- proof tape for an insulation job, although unsuccessful came the creationof Scotch Cellulose tape. Through the process of developing its new product line of coated abrasives and pressure sensitive tapes, 3M quickly amassed a strong knowledge of material technologies and an impressive capability in the precision coating process. To leverage and expand this expertise, in 1937 McKnight approved the creation of a Central Research Laboratory launching technological development. By the creation of the CRL new creations such as electrical tape, reflective tape which resulted in the development of traffic control and safety systems, and magnetic tape which aided in audio and video recording products. McKnight knew that if 3M didn’t expand abroad its competitors would use international markets to build their
Case Analysis- 3M: Profile of an Innovating Company Introduction Relevant Facts The next invention was the wetordry waterproof sandpaper, which came about when an ink manufacturing named Francis Okie asked for samples of every mineral supply in the house. Mr. Okie was persuaded to join 3M as the company first product developer. The wetordry found immediate acceptance in automobile plants and repair shops. The next critical event occurred in 1925 when Dick Drew a young laboratory technician was sent to deliver sandpaper samples to an auto repair shop for testing seeing the problem that workers were having refinishing the new two-tone paint jobs, Drew began to work with sandpaper adhesives, developing a paper coating that held tightly but stripped off easily. This was the evaluation of masking tape which quickly found acceptance. While 3M sales force continued to relay on customer’s needs to the company expanding lab technicians adapted the abrasive and tape product line to a variety of applications. DuPont’s newly introduced cellophane with adhesive was the most important experiment, it was needed for a moisture- proof tape for an insulation job, although unsuccessful came the creationof Scotch Cellulose tape. Through the process of developing its new product line of coated abrasives and pressure sensitive tapes, 3M quickly amassed a strong knowledge of material technologies and an impressive capability in the precision coating process. To leverage and expand this expertise, in 1937 McKnight approved the creation of a Central Research Laboratory launching technological development. By the creation of the CRL new creations such as electrical tape, reflective tape which resulted in the development of traffic control and safety systems, and magnetic tape which aided in audio and video recording products. McKnight knew that if 3M didn’t expand abroad its competitors would use international markets to build their
References: DwgraffJ, & Quinn, S. E (2007). Leading Innovation. New York, NY: McGraw_Hill. (n.d.) Retrieved April 9, 2008, from m Corporation: www.3Mcorporation.com