# Manufacturing Innovation: A Heuristic Model of Innovation Processes for Industry 4.0
## 4 Results
### Heuristic Modeling of Innovation Process for Industry 4.0  
Based on the process that is applied in the case, we can now infer the characteristics of an innovation process for manufacturing innovation in the context of Industry 4.0:  
* The inherent complexity of manufacturing innovations for Industry 4.0 is affected by the systemic relations to legacy in the existing system and the relations to future innovations. * The iterative approach with continuous knowledge sharing divides the complexity of the manufacturing innovation into smaller parts that are easier to grasp and solve. * The process has similar steps as the models presented in [PERSON] (2016). However, they are conducted iteratively rather than sequentially. Therefore, e.g., activities related to implementation start early in the innovation process. * The iterative approach supports knowledge-building on manufacturing innovations for Industry 4.0. * To find the best solution, experimentation with different solutions is needed. The experiments can advantageously be carried out in a setting separated from but resembling the company's actual operations to affect operations as little as possible. These characteristics allow for proposing heuristic modeling of an innovation process suitable for manufacturing innovation in the context of Industry 4.0. This type of model is heuristic by nature as it may not be optimal but is nevertheless sufficient for reaching \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Characteristics** & **Iteration 1** & **Iteration 2** & **Iteration 3** & **Iteration 4** \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Data exchange} & Workstations 1–3 & & & The MES and ERP \\  & perform the same & & systems are integrated & \\  & operations irrespective & The MES is running & to manage product & \\  & of the customer’s order. & and can communicate & variety at all four & \\  & Therefore, & with the workstations. & workstations. & \\  & specifications of the & However, the MES is not integrated with the & Furthermore, operations at & The same as in iteration 3. \\  & customer’s order only need to be & ERP system, for which & workstation 4 are now & \\  & communicated to & reason the process & communicated to the & \\  & workstation 4. The & control has not changed & operator through a & \\  & operator at workstation & from iteration 1. & pick-by-light system & \\  & 4 receives the product & specifications on paper. & and a screen. & \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Workstation design} & Product variety can be & & & \\  & managed at & & & \\  & workstation 4. All other & The same as in iteration 1. & Product variety can be managed at all four & Product personalization can be \\  & perform one operation & & workstations. & managed at \\  & as if it had been mass & & workstation 4. & workstation 4. \\ \hline \multicolumn{4}{p{113.8 pt}}{The manufacturing system’s ability to manage complexity} & Low & Medium & Medium–High & High \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: _Cont._a close approximation of the process needs. Heuristics are particularly useful for finding a satisfactory solution, allowing approximation of model characteristics when finding an optimal solution is not possible. As such, heuristic process models can also promote theoretical progress [45; 46]. The proposed conceptual process model is illustrated in Figure 4. The innovation process starts with defining as much of the problem as possible, recognizing that this will be a moving target throughout the project and needs re-conceptualization as knowledge increases. Next, conceptual modeling of the preliminary solution is conducted, which is tested in a natural or resembling manufacturing environment, such as a learning factory, before its design is evaluated. The project team will continuously return to previous steps to re-evaluate based on the knowledge they have obtained. These alterations may be big or small, but they should be considered and adopted (if valuable) to ensure the best possible solution.