Rolls-Royce ‘best in class’ for technology management

1-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been recognised as one of the best in Europe for ‘Technology Management’ by the world-renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology. The ‘Successful Practice Award’ was presented on 30 January at a ceremony held in Vaals, the Netherlands.

Rolls-Royce, which has invested over £7.5 billion in the last ten years on Research and Development, was commended for its long-term strategic approach to technology development. Also highlighted were its network of University Technology Centres and Manufacturing Research Centres which act as both generators of technology and important recruiting grounds for talent. Rolls-Royce was identified as possessing a culture of openness, which incentivizes innovation, and an ability to identify and channel resources into successful technology.

Ric Parker, Director – Research & Technology, Rolls-Royce said: ‘We are delighted to receive this award for Technology Management from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology. Our constant drive for innovation is critical in developing and improving performance across our huge portfolio of products and related technologies. This award recognises the consistent effort and contribution of our global technology management team and all our researchers as they work together to deliver our brand promise: “trusted to deliver excellence”.’

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology ‘Successful Practice Award’ recognizes those companies which have demonstrated best in class practice in how they manage innovation to drive improvements in technology.

Some 160 companies participated in 2012/13, with five receiving awards following a rigorous screening and assessment process. Potential award winners were assessed on how well they organized their technology management, their forecasting of requirements and their planning and controlling of the development of new technology.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology is part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the largest organization for applied research in Europe with more than 80 research units, 22,000 staff and research centres and representative offices in Europe, USA, Asia and in the Middle East. The award itself is organized and run together with a consortium of world class European companies including Daimler, Bosch, and Miele.

1. Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets – civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £11.3 billion in 2011, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £60.1 billion at 30 June 2012, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
4. Rolls-Royce employs over 40,000 people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.
5. In 2011, Rolls-Royce invested £908 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
6. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres and seven Advanced Material Research Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
7. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

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Alistair Coast-Smith, Technology Strategy Manager, receives the award on behalf of Rolls-Royce