3m Innovation Case Analysis
cInnovation Organisations: The 3M Way
Damian Gordon
Recommended Reading
3M
formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Founded on the North Shore of Lake Superior at Two Harbors, Minnesota in 1902 With over 76,000 employees they produce over 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electrical materials, electronic circuits and optical films
Richard Drew
June 22, 1899 – December 14, 1980 American inventor who worked for 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he invented;
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Masking tape, Cellophane tape, and Duct tape.
Masking Tape
In 1923 3M employee Richard Drew visited an autorepair shop in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M produced and sold sandpaper and Drew was in the shop to test out a new batch.
Masking Tape
When he entered the shop employees were expressing disappointment at a failed attempt to paint a car in the two-tone style that was becoming popular at the time.
Masking Tape
Typically how the effect was achieved was by painting part of the car in one colour while covering the other parts with butcher paper The butcher paper was usually held in place with a heavy adhesive tape. Unfortunately, removing the adhesive tape peeled away part of the paint job.
THE IMPORTANT BIT:
Rather than just sympathise with his customers and move on, Drew decided to do something about it.
Masking Tape
His company 3M had a lot of know-how in creating adhesives from making sand paper, so Drew figured he would try to make a paper tape to help solve his customer’s problems. Drew began experimenting with a range of materials and manufacturing processes to solve this problem.
William McKnight
11 November 1887 – 4 March 1978 Businessman who served his entire career in the 3M corporation. McKnight encouraged 3M management to delegate responsibility
Masking Tape
Damian Gordon
Recommended Reading
3M
formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Founded on the North Shore of Lake Superior at Two Harbors, Minnesota in 1902 With over 76,000 employees they produce over 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electrical materials, electronic circuits and optical films
Richard Drew
June 22, 1899 – December 14, 1980 American inventor who worked for 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he invented;
–
–
–
Masking tape, Cellophane tape, and Duct tape.
Masking Tape
In 1923 3M employee Richard Drew visited an autorepair shop in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M produced and sold sandpaper and Drew was in the shop to test out a new batch.
Masking Tape
When he entered the shop employees were expressing disappointment at a failed attempt to paint a car in the two-tone style that was becoming popular at the time.
Masking Tape
Typically how the effect was achieved was by painting part of the car in one colour while covering the other parts with butcher paper The butcher paper was usually held in place with a heavy adhesive tape. Unfortunately, removing the adhesive tape peeled away part of the paint job.
THE IMPORTANT BIT:
Rather than just sympathise with his customers and move on, Drew decided to do something about it.
Masking Tape
His company 3M had a lot of know-how in creating adhesives from making sand paper, so Drew figured he would try to make a paper tape to help solve his customer’s problems. Drew began experimenting with a range of materials and manufacturing processes to solve this problem.
William McKnight
11 November 1887 – 4 March 1978 Businessman who served his entire career in the 3M corporation. McKnight encouraged 3M management to delegate responsibility
Masking Tape