Cooper Standard: Automotive Hoses Can Be Innovative?

This was the question I had when briefed by Cooper Standard an automotive parts company that is currently growing about 1.5x the automotive parts industry due to its innovative processes and products.  They make automotive weather-stripping, hoses and metal fuel lines for cars (and industrial equipment).  But one of the innovative parts is they don’t use Rubber, they use a rubber like substance that doesn’t degrade with age and is protected against rubbing sourced hose failure naturally.

But it is their innovation process that causes them to stand out.  Let me explain.

The 3 Steps Of Innovation

The first step is coming up with the initial idea. They call this step “Imagine” and here an employee presents an idea that pertains to current existing products. It could have to do with how the product is designed, manufactured, what materials are used, or the other processes that surround it. All focus on the firm’s core solutions in fluid transfer, sealing and trim, fuel and brake line delivery, and anti-vibrations offerings.

They’ve implemented a simple on-line form to submit the idea and this is tied to the second step called “Initiate”. This form then flows to Cooper Standard’s Global Technology Council who reviews the idea and either accepts or rejects it.

If the idea is approved, it then moves to the final phase which is called “Innovate”. Once approved it moves directly into product development where it is refined and the idea remains there until it is implemented.

Ideas can be submitted by employees or partners and whoever submits the idea gets to husband it through the process if it is approved and they may also be asked to provide background with the approval process.

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