“Innovation is anticipating the customer’s needs” We talk to Jordi Sahún, Comexi’s Innovation Director.
Comexi is a recognized family company founded in 1954 that has extensive experience in the manufacture of machinery and in offering global solutions for flexible packaging . Today, it is a global partner with more than 500 employees and has factories in Spain and Brazil. Since its inception, Comexi has been characterized by maintaining a firm commitment to innovation . Over the last few years, Jordi Sahún, the firm’s innovation director , has seen the application of new innovation strategies in the company.
“Innovation is based on asking powerful questions to break the status quo.”
Jordi Sahún, Innovation Director of Comexi
Jordi has more than 20 years of experience in innovation , development and industrialization of machinery and services for the flexible packaging industry. In addition, he has led transversal engineering teams in all disciplines, and is characterized by an entrepreneurial and decisive approach. Next, we share an interview with Jordi Sahún where we got to know his vision on topics such as innovation, industry 4.0. and what to expect from INDPULS.
Innovation can have a very broad definition that takes – according to each person/entity – different scopes and dimensions. What is innovation for you?
Innovation is knowing the customer’s needs in order to anticipate them and thus improve your business or create new ones.
How to apply innovation to your everyday life? And at your job and company?
Innovation is based on asking powerful questions to disrupt the status quo. In the company it is necessary to be by the customer’s side, understand their pains and challenges, ask questions and propose approaches and solutions of value.
Why do you think collaborative innovation is important?
Because to innovate is to integrate value. Knowledge is very broad and dispersed, to innovate is to detect challenges, search for knowledge and integrate it into the client’s processes. To really innovate, you need to feed on external initiatives and viewpoints, which you can only access if you open your innovation processes to external companies and agents, so that they collaborate with you to meet the needs of the customer.
What should innovation look like to have an impact?
To make an impact, the customer must recognize the innovation as value and the company must monetize it. Innovating is difficult, but you have to do it, you have to try, even if it doesn’t always go well. The final balance is what must have an impact.
How do you imagine the future of the industrial ecosystem?
Collaborative, that is, open systems where the value will focus more on process, simulation and prediction and above all flexibility in adapting to change.
How do you think organizations should adapt to Industry 4.0?
It is necessary to define a digital agenda in the short/medium term, but it is necessary to move forward by implementing i4.0 in specific problems, use cases, …, to learn, gain confidence, see results, … And grow gradually with a dedicated team and driven by the Management.
How can innovation contribute to having a more sustainable and responsible industry with the planet?
With focus Understanding sustainability as an impact on the environment and that it is an opportunity for innovation rather than a problem. Defining sustainability as a strategic axis of innovation in companies and allocating resources.
And finally, what is INDPULS for you?
INDPULS represents inspiration, thinking outside the box, collaborating, sharing and learning with a common purpose: to transform the industry as a key and sustainable asset.
