Spend a lot of time with customers

 

Lead user process

 

• Many commercially important products are initially thought of and even prototyped by users rather than manufacturers

• Such products tend to be developed by “lead users”—companies, organizations, or individuals that are well ahead of market trends and have needs that go far beyond those of the average user

• Systematize the company’s development of breakthroughs

 

 

First customer inspired innovation: two-toned cars were in demand. But a clean paint line was very hard to achieve as the tapes available at that time either left a residue or reacted with the paint. So, 3M engineer Richard Drew, worked on the problem for 2 years and eventually, Scotch Tape was invented!