Transforming Manufacturing Organizations Through Deliberate Creativity with Dr. Amy Climer

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan welcomes Dr. Amy Climer, an expert in fostering organizational creativity and innovation. Amy, author of "Deliberate Creative Teams," shares her research-backed strategies to help manufacturing companies enhance their creative processes. Dive into a discussion about incorporating creativity in manufacturing, the role of leadership in innovation, and practical techniques for fostering a creative environment on the shop floor.

Key Themes:

1. Defining Creativity in Manufacturing:

• Amy defines creativity as "novelty that is valuable," emphasizing the importance of fresh, innovative ideas that bring tangible benefits to organizations.

1. Importance of Creativity in Manufacturing:

• Amy discusses how creativity helps prevent stagnation, encourages innovation, and ensures manufacturers remain competitive in a rapidly changing market landscape.

1. Fostering Creativity:

• Clear Shared Purpose:
• Teams need a unified purpose to drive creative efforts towards meaningful goals.
• Strong Team Dynamics:
• Effective communication, trust, and balanced conflict are essential for fostering a creative team environment.
• Creative Process Awareness:
• Understanding and implementing a creative process, like the Creative Problem Solving methodology, is critical in generating and developing innovative ideas.

1. Lessons Learned from Real-World Examples:

• Amy shares a manufacturing company case study that improved efficiency and spurred innovation by implementing structured creativity sessions, generating over a thousand ideas.

1. Role of Leadership in Innovation:

• Leaders set the tone for creativity by role modeling, encouraging idea sharing, and creating a supportive environment for innovative thinking.

1. Implementing Creativity in Structured Environments:

• Amy offers practical strategies for integrating creativity within daily operations, including regular ideation sessions and structured feedback mechanisms.

Fun Facts:

• The term "Creative Abrasion," mentioned by Amy, originates from Jerry Hirschberg's work at Nissan in the 1980s, highlighting the productive clash of different cultural and creative perspectives.
• Amy refers to the ingenious use of a 3D printer to maintain an obsolete machine as an example of creativity leading to unexpected problem-solving.

Lessons Learned:

• Deliberate creativity requires an intentional and structured approach to be effectively harnessed within organizations.
• Encouraging and valuing employee input can lead to significant cost savings and process improvements.

Connect with Dr. Amy Climer:

• Website:
• climerconsulting.com
• LinkedIn:
• Amy Climer on LinkedIn
• Book: "Deliberate Creative Teams, How to Lead for Innovative Results" available on major book platforms.