1. Today’s challenges in Finnish plastic- and mould manufacturing industry 20th April 2006 Comenius meeting in Kankaanpää Timo Nuotio, Innoplast Oy

2. Who? Timo Nuotio M. Sc. (Eng.), mechanical engineering Graduated from TUT June 2005 Worked at Innoplast Oy since spring 2004 Began as R&D Engineer, nowadays the Developing manager

3. Established 1999, located in Kankaanpää Produces technical plastic parts and delivers moulds for injection moulding industry Parent company of Kankaanpään Muotti Oy and Innomold Oy Customers are mostly from telecommunication (mobile phones) and diagnostics industry About 10% export (Hungary, Brazil, Germany…) ~ 50 employees Full service: product design  mould design  mould  injection moulding  assembly

4. What makes it difficult and challenging… to be an international producer? –Finland is far from every high- volume market to be a better choice than other companies in Eastern Europe and Far East? –Labour costs are high in Finland; it is very difficult to be that cheap –The markets are getting more free and transportation has got cheaper

5. The most important challenges The customers demand: –Accuracy and high quality –Fastness and flexibility –Capability to manage large projects –Low price Being economically beneficial Being able to work with foreign companies, cultures and people Being a better choice than other companies (especially the ones abroad)

6. Being accurate Being accurate 1. Demand: Good and efficient machines Computers and software 3D-CAD, CAM and CNC- machines

7. Being accurate 1. Demand: Good and efficient machines EDM, grinding- and milling machines

8. Being accurate 1. Demand: Good and efficient machines Injection moulding machines

9. Being accurate 2. Demand: Skilled and engaged people –Education and training –Courses

10. Producing quality Certified quality system –ISO 9001 and –ISO 14001 Disciplined way of working Quality assurance –After every stage of production; not only when everything should be ready

11. Fastness and flexibility Disciplined process Efficient production control Efficient machinery –Software, machines, automation Desire to serve the customer

12. Capability to manage large projects Efficient and tested project management Networking –Wide capacity –Sharing of workload –Sharing of risks –Specialization MUOTTITUOTE NURMI OY

13. Low price Pretty much everything mentioned until now: –Efficient machinery High level of automation –Well working production management –Skilled and motivated personnel –Quality assurance and Partners for co-operation

14. So, after all… To be able to be competitive in the international competition, we have to: –Develop all the time. If we don’t do it, someone else will but not for us… –Listen to the customers and act the way they need us to. –Work logically to reach the targets that we have set.