Representatives from some of the Upstate’s biggest employers gathered on May 26 to map out how technology is shaping business here at home and across the globe.
InnoVision, a group dedicated to the advancement of innovation and technology in South Carolina, held a forum at Burr & Forman LLP with representatives from three of the region’s top employers: TTI, VELUX and Michelin.
The forum, titled Innovating in Global Markets, had panelists discussing how technology has helped global businesses stay connected, even when offices can be half a world apart.
The panelists included:
- Dave Adamson, open innovation leader with connected mobility services at Michelin North America.
- Brian Mertel, vice president of product management at TTI.
- Ross Vandermark, national product manager at VELUX America.
Working 24/7 across the globe
Mertel said working with the Hong Kong parent company offices at TTI, which owns power tool brands Ryobi and Hart, means conference calls could happen at 8 p.m. locally, while those halfway around the world are just starting their day. Videoconferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams allow product development and communication to continue even into the pandemic. But different markets have different needs, Mertel said, so e-commerce is a vital way of testing products in smaller, more localized batches across the globe.
“We’re proud of the number of products we’ve been able to launch in the past couple of years,” Mertel said, noting that work at TTI is a 24/7 cycle; when one group finishes for the day, the next one is ready to get started.
Speaking on behalf of Michelin, Adamson said coordination is not only a challenge of working across times zones but also across cultures. The multinational tire manufacturer operates facilities in Greenville, with additional plants in Starr, Sandy Springs and Spartanburg, all while remaining rooted in central France. Adamson said the company offers a number of classes on cultural differences to fend off miscommunication and productivity disruption.
“Innovation is messy and stressful,” Adamson said. “We’re 10% successful at the things we try.”
Getting teams back together
Still, as the pandemic has waned, Adamson said employees have been getting people back together. The focus on the human side of the job involves building trust and deeper relationships, which can be as simple as co-workers sharing meals and talking about their families, he said.
For the team at VELUX, the skylight manufacturer that operates a facility in Greenwood, rarely do more than a few months go by without team members meeting their colleagues in Denmark, where the company is based.
“The level of innovation from in-person development can’t be replaced,” Vendermark said.
Often in-person interaction can be a buttress against industry volatility, according to Mertel. He said his team’s ability to maintain strong relationships with suppliers has allowed them to navigate supply chain woes, especially for necessary components in short supply, like semi-conductors.
Ryobi/TTI facts
- TTI was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Hong Kong.
- Employs about 12,000 in U.S. operations.
- North American operations are located at 100 Innovation Way in Anderson.
VELUX facts
- VELUX is a manufacturing company that specializes in roof windows and skylights.
- Employs 350 in Fort Mill.
- Operations are located at 450 Old Brickyard Road in Greenwood.
Michelin North America facts
- Michelin is a French tire manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
- Employs more than 9,000 corporate and production employees across South Carolina.
- North American headquarters located at 1 Parkway S., Greenville. There are also Upstate plants in Starr, Sandy Springs and Spartanburg.
