Innovation of Product and Services by Paint Suppliers

by:

Azi Izwani Nor Hamzah

2009520721

Msc. in  Integrated Construction Project Management

Innovation needs to be clear understand by parties involve in construction because it can takes many form. In (Blayse and Manley, 2004) which excerpt from (Slaughter, 1998) she defines innovation as follows;

“Innovation is the actual use of a nontrivial change and improvement in a process, product or system that is novel to the institution developing the change.”

            As state in Oslo Manual from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Innovation can be either ‘technical’ or ‘organisational’. Technical innovation involves either ‘product’ or ‘process’ innovation, whereas organizational innovation includes changes to structure, introduction of advanced management techniques, and implementation of new corporate strategic orientations (Anderson and Manseau, 1999).

            Therefore, innovation can simply describe as improvement or the changes for the respective area. The process will gives positive benefits to the surrounding involvement. Innovation will create new value to the related production.

            In construction industry, innovation can be incorporated for different stages which also involve many parties. Project management will help to manage the wide range of area in construction industry. According to (Tan, 2005), the stages are business plan, market research & data collection, feasibility study, design process, cost factor, tender documentation, construction, maintenance, sales and marketing and financing.  Based on the various stages, activities and people involvement is also in bigger scope of area.

            For that reason, this paper will discuss on a small scope of area which is material supplier innovation in their product and services. The innovation will relate to technical innovation for their product and services. The material suppliers for this paper will based on paint suppliers which among the popular in Malaysia. The scope may small but the innovation is clear and gives positive improvement to user and their business.

           

For the last 10 years, paint suppliers, painters or contractor will used catalogue or some kind of card that contains various colors for paint to consult their customer. Based on the catalogue or card, customer or client will choose their color paint that suitable with their purposes. All the information about the material will be describe verbally support with the documentation.

Nowadays, with IT application, they improve the services and also the product. Catalogue is still remaining but some changes or improvement also done by them especially in term of presentation to attract client for the product. In other words with IT application, they can expand their business to the wider area.

            

With IT, many others features can be add and share with clients around the world. This also becomes one of their market strategies. In line with modernization, rather than promote and introduce their new products and services the company also used their web site to show their social activities and it will help their business growth. It gives better impression towards their company not only among clients but also people outside the construction area.

            Types of paint are also increase nowadays to suite with the clients’ requirements and nature environments. Paint that resistant to the weather is something command now because suppliers produce more attractive product such as, surface paint that can be clean if they have any dirties element such as children color painting or food. The surface can be cleaned without gives any effects to the paint surface.

Sustainable types of paint are also produced by suppliers to make it more environmental friendly. As an example, Dulux produce a low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints help reduce health risks and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

From the innovation for their products and services, nowadays client can chose and create their own color of paint because they have produce a machine for mixing the color paint. The paint will be exclusive create for the client and it affordable. The machine usually located at hardware store and easy to operate.

            More attractive in their innovation of products and services is customer also can try to paint the area that they wanted to do so in the web site. The customer only need to take picture of the area and download to the website and start to paint on it by choosing the color that they want to apply to the real surface. This will helps customers to visualize their idea and will contribute to the success of their objectives. By experienced this services personally, it have advantages and disadvantages.

            One of the advantages for this service has been mentioned above which help to visualize the result based on the color chosen. This also contribute to others basis objective of project management which are to meet up the cost, time and quality.

The triangle of project objectives

            Customer can save their cost by seeing the result of the color choice first before invest some money for it. This will help unsatisfaction after done the panting. Nevertheless it also has disadvantages because some of the colors effects in the web will be slightly differ with the reality which after applied to the real surface. This issue needs to be considered before do the final decision.

            Time can be save when something is well planed such of this services, because the color chosen likely have been tested first for their suitability and eliminate any changes after or during work paint. Quality of work will be increase because reduce mistake. Pre paint work on the real 2d surface in the web site also can contribute to the effective and efficiency in working.

            Besides all the advantages, it also has the disadvantages because the color of paint in website may slightly differ from the real. This may be because of technical features impact such as the brightness or level of contrast that have been set. The result still can be reefers by customer because it only minor differences.

            The innovation of web site services also can be implementing for other suppliers such as tiling or for kitchen renovation services or event other part of construction suppliers. The same basic ways can be incorporated with, which clients take picture of the area want to do the work and upload to the web site. Suppliers prepare some choice of design and client will try on it.

            This innovation of services will helps clients evaluate their idea based on the result before the designers or suppliers explained and gives further consultation on it. By doing this, it may increase clients’ participation in term of design requirement which suite with their needs.

From such innovation for this service, it will gives opportunity to the client play around with the various types of design that have been prepared. In advance innovation for the website services like this, in future maybe client can create their own idea and suppliers or contractor will gives comment on it based on their specialty and experiences. This service may exclusively design for the clients that really hired the contractor or suppliers to deliver the design. By implements such innovation like this, the business will be globalize.

            Innovation may easily do for the simple or small things or organization because it seems to be simpler than the bigger or complex ones. Small changes or innovation can contribute and create the bigger effect and impact in the future.  

References

-Anderson, F. and Manseau, A. 1999: A systemic approach to generation in conatruction/transmission/use of innovation in construction activities.  

-Slaughter, E.S. 1998: Models of construction innovation. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.

-Blayse and Manley, 2004: Key influences on construction innovation.

-Tan,2005: Successful Project Management in Malaysia,Asia Pacific Media & Publications Sdn. Bhd.