Polytechnics work with business to improve company performance and increase innovation.

New Zealand’s institutes of technology and polytechnics are teaming up with business to enhance the rate of innovation and improve company performance.

Earlier this year, the Metro Polytechnics launched Innovating New Zealand, a new initiative to increase the transfer of knowledge and technology from the institutes to industry. Companies can now access the expertise of polytechnic and institutes of technology staff through a collaborative website – www.innovatingnz.org.nz.

Innovation, broadly defined, encompasses the development of new products and services, improved business operations and processes, increased organisational capability and new or improved marketing methods. Through a combination of fee-for-service consulting, customised staff training, design and prototyping services and student internships, the polytechnic sector offers a range of solutions for a myriad of business challenges.

Hamilton-based manufacturing company Stainless Design is one company that has benefited from the polytechnics’ commitment to working with industry. Managing director John Cook approached Wintec to design a comprehensive set of training manuals to standardise work practices and give employees an opportunity to grow with the company.

“Wintec were considered our local experts in training development and delivery so it was easy to put ourselves in their hands...the team at Wintec’s Learning Works were of enormous help.”

The result was a customised on-line learning resource which provided Stainless Design’s eighty staff with easy access to training materials and operating procedures for the firm’s specialist equipment and software. It also helped the company to fast-track the implementation of Kaizen.

“Through this project, Wintec have accelerated our progress with our ‘Lean’ objectives to cross train our team, provide them with more challenges and the opportunity to grow with our business. It has provided the platform for standardisation of work practices while we explore new and progressive ways to carry out our daily tasks related to our information and learning systems” says Cook.

Other New Zealand companies also look set to benefit from the Innovating New Zealand initiative. Unitec Dean of Research Dr. Simon Peel explains, “Innovating New Zealand asks industry what their needs are and links those needs to areas of expertise and capability that can solve those problems and issues.”

For Otago Polytechnic CEO Phil Ker those needs often lie with improvements to companies’ business operations and organisational capabilities. “The polytechnics are a valuable source of knowledge and expertise for business, particularly in areas like strategic development, human resources, workplace communication and management training.”

Innovating New Zealand signals the ITP sector’s commitment to a closer engagement with industry to support innovation and improve company performance. As Stainless Design’s managing director John Cook notes “we are very grateful for the willingness of Wintec to help the local business community to ‘raise the bar’.”

ENDS