CREATION OF RESEARCH-ORIENTED COMPETENCE-CELL-BASED PRODUCTION NETWORKS

With the basis that research is one of the most important internal sources for innovation, a new approach to create competence-cell-based production networks focused on research activities is presented. Thus, a research process, specific for competence-cell-based networks, is also described. In this process, which is subdivided in different phases, the competence-cells, as the smallest performance units, are temporarily linked in a production network. They cooperate to carry out industry-oriented applied research to generate new ideas or technologies to be used in innovative products. For this process, an approach for the non-hierarchical selection of the necessary competence cells is also introduced. This selection is accomplished by means of the innovation potential, which is based on parameters that evaluate nearly objectively the innovative capabilities of the competence cells.