2016 North American Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment New Product Innovation Award

Transcription

1 2016 North American Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment New Product Innovation Award 2016

2 Contents Background and Company Performance... 3 Industry Challenges... 3 New Product Attributes and Customer Impact... 4 Conclusion... 6 Significance of New Product Innovation... 7 Understanding New Product Innovation... 7 Key Benchmarking Criteria... 7 Best Practice Award Analysis for Honeywell... 8 Decision Support Scorecard... 8 New Product Attributes... 9 Customer Impact... 9 Decision Support Matrix The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards Research Methodology About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

3 Background and Company Performance Industry Challenges Manufacturers of firefighter personal protective equipment are increasingly faced with the challenge of bringing to the market firefighter personal protective equipment that provides protection against cancer-causing carcinogens. Research studies published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine point to the increased risk of cancer among firefighters, particularly mesothelioma and prostate cancer. The search and rescue approach to firefighting puts firefighters at close proximity to fires, quite unlike the surround-and-drown approach that is practiced in Western Europe. Firefighter s toxin protection is compromised at interfaces and through hoods. The neck and jaw areas are especially susceptible to carcinogenic exposure. Additional risks to firefighter safety stem from the lack of compliance to safety norms once the fire has been put out. During periods of overhaul, firefighter may remove the breathing masks prematurely, running the risk of inhaling smoke when the fire is all but out. The risks to firefighter safety run the gamut; firefighter personal protective equipment manufacturers have to invest in designing equipment that mitigates the risks to firefighter safety. Up until the recent past, manufacturers invested in designing equipment that provides a high degree of thermal protection while minimizing heat stress. Firefighters are now looking for equipment that goes beyond the norm, for example, ergonomic and lightweight equipment that reduces the risk of injuries for firefighters. Now, cancer risk is front and center on the agenda for manufacturers, fire departments and firefighters alike. Research has identified that carcinogen build-up appears to be the heaviest on the neck and face areas. The protection provided by the hoods has been less effective in blocking particulate matter and soot. The design of firefighter hoods requires a high degree of technical expertise and care as the hoods serve as an interface between several ensemble elements including the SCBA facepiece, helmet, ear covers and coat collars. Firefighter hoods also provide thermal protection supplementing the protection provided by the helmet. Manufacturers have to invest significant time and resources in producing a blend of fabrics with the optimal balance of thermal protective performance and breathability. Manufacturers have to stay abreast of changing end-user trends to produce hoods with high thermal performance, breathability and reduced heat stress. Finally, the materials used in buildings in North America contain a larger proportion of synthetic materials such as plastics, polyesters, acrylics. The burning of such materials results in the release of particulate matter, smoke and carcinogens that are absorbed through the skin. With the firefighter industry undergoing numerous shifts, manufacturers have to continually work to bring to the market protective equipment that provides adequate protection against a number of hazards, most recently, carcinogenic particulate matter. Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

4 New Product Attributes and Customer Impact Match to Needs Honeywell is a leading provider of head-to-toe personal protective equipment in the market. Its first responders division focuses on bringing to the market the latest technological advancements through close collaborations with firefighters. It is one of the leading competitors in the North American Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment Industry. Honeywell recently launched a new particle resistant hood called the Life Guard Hood for protection against hazardous particulate matter. The product has successfully addressed several unmet needs in the firefighter personal protective equipment industry. Cancer risk is front and center on the agenda of fire departments across the United States. Firefighters are increasingly exposed to a number of harmful carcinogens. Protection against these carcinogens has been less than adequate. The neck and throat are highly sensitive to toxins, which necessitate the engineering of impermeable firefighting hoods. Synthetic materials such as plastics, acrylics are commonly used in homes, resulting in fires that burn hotter and faster. Tests conducted by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) in 2015 indicated that traditional hoods demonstrated weak penetration resistance to particulate matter. The Life Guard Hood manufactured by Honeywell demonstrates strong penetration resistance to particulate matter, as measured by the Fluorescent Aerosol Screening Test (FAST). Further testing demonstrates that the hood scored high on particulate filtration efficiency (99%), over and above other competitor products. In addition, the loose design promotes air movement around the head while the barrier keeps the hood dry. Honeywell s Life Guard hood checks the boxes of fit, form and function, meeting the standards for thermal protection and safety. It also features a comfortable knit top without a barrier providing adequate ventilation for the wearer. It lends itself to 50+ washes making it very durable. The degree of launderability is a critical end-user need. Carcinogens are absorbed by the hood, putting firefighters at risk. Regular decontamination mitigates the risk of absorption of carcinogens. Launderable hoods, therefore, becomes a high priority for firefighters. Honeywell has brought to the market a product that significantly lowers the risk of exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens. The company has carefully addressed the issues highlighted in research studies on the weak links of the firefighter personal protective ensemble. Quality Honeywell s new Life Guard Hood demonstrates superior quality of protection against carcinogens in both air and water. It leverages a highly breathable triple layer composite material with a seam sealed barrier to reduce the likelihood of particulates penetrating the hood. The Life Guard Hood has significant competitive advantage over other products that come equipped with double layer composite material. The hood includes a 4.7 ounce per square yard Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) barrier that completely blocks particulate matter. The company has gone beyond the norms of regular testing requirements to meet Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

5 the rigorous requirements of the full Fluorescent Aerosol Screening Test (FAST) in a simulated use environment. This gives it significant competitive advantage in the firefighter personal protective equipment market where the rigor of testing requirements indicate the quality of protection afforded by the protective equipment in question. Honeywell s new Life Guard Hood meets stringent requirements for safety and performance by achieving the following levels of thermal protective performance (TPP) and total heat loss (THL): TPP of 24 for the barrier composite material and 28 knit material, and THL of for the barrier composite material and 370 for the knit material. The Life Guard provides an optimal balance of thermal protective performance and total heat loss, ensuring the highest level of protection and breathability. Additionally, the material composite has been tested to block out 99.9% of particulate matter when tested to F2299 as proposed by NFPA. Design Honeywell s new Life Guard Hood replaces the traditional sock hood design, with a light, more roomy fit that allows for the seamless integration of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and turnout gear with the hood. Incremental improvements in design and technology are critical to ensuring end-user compliance in the firefighter personal protective equipment industry. The hood serves as a critical interface between the SCBA facepiece, helmet and turnout gear. A lighter, roomier fit, as afforded by Honeywell s Life Guard Hood, ensures a higher degree of compliance, comfort and safety. Honeywell has made available the hood in different hood sizes (small, medium, large, X-large), corresponding to the best fit for varying head circumferences. The company has also successfully incorporated a barrier that affords breathability and particulate protection, without tilting the scale in favor of one factor over the other. This has been made possible by successfully designing the hood to allow for the flow of optimal air while providing protection against carcinogens. The knit only drape ensures that the drape lies flat across the body without adding bulk. Reliability Honeywell s new Life Guard hood has proven reliability in providing protection against particulate penetration, as evinced by the test results conducted by the International Association of Firefighting (IAFF). The testing results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Life Guard Hood against particulate matter. The result is particularly noteworthy as prior IAFF tests conducted in 2015 demonstrated that standard knit hoods provide inadequate protection against carcinogens. Heavy deposits on the head and neck area were observed while using standard knit hoods. Additionally, the Life Guard Hood has demonstrated no degradation of particulate resistance after repeated washings. This sets it apart from competitor hoods in the market. Stakeholder Integration Honeywell has brought together members of the garment design and engineering teams to bring to the market a Life Guard hood in a new form factor. The stakeholder integration was seamless as evinced by the breakthrough improvements made in the design of the Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

6 product. The new Life Guard hood ensures that the interfaces between the head and neck are robust, eliminating the likelihood of contaminants seeping into the hood. Particular care has been taken to strike an optimal balance between protection and breathability. The hood has been engineered using a patent pending hybrid design which integrates a knit fabric with a lightweight barrier composite weighing 16 ounces per square yard of fabric and incorporates Honeywell s patented Mask Mate face opening. These breakthrough design and engineering improvements have been made possible by taking inputs from the firefighters in the development stage of the product. The outcome of this exercise has been the introduction of a revolutionary hood that provides protection against carcinogenic exposure in the most vulnerable areas of a firefighter, including the head and neck areas. Brand Equity Headquartered in New Jersey, Honeywell is a leading provider of protective equipment in the head-to-toe personal protective equipment market. The company does not have to invest additional resources to increase its brand awareness. Its portfolio has breadth and depth in equal measure. The brand equity generated by Honeywell s current flagship products is likely to result in the receptiveness of firefighters to new product innovations such as the Life Guard Hood. Further, Honeywell is likely to be able to leverage its brand equity for securing competitive distributor contracts which, in turn, is likely to result in high penetration rates for the new Life Guard Hood. Conclusion Honeywell is a leading innovator in the firefighter personal protective equipment industry. The company remains committed to providing firefighters innovative solutions for fighting fires, while minimizing the risk of exposure to unknown harmful contaminants. The new Life Guard hood provides protection against carcinogens present in increasingly high-risk, unpredictable environments. Frost & Sullivan s independent analysis clearly shows that the company has made a significant breakthrough in addressing the threats posed by harmful carcinogens to firefighter health and safety through the development of the new hood. The new Life Guard Hood was developed after a systematic evaluation of the areas of the body most vulnerable to risk of exposure to contaminants, i.e. the neck, head and jaw areas. Honeywell has also invested in ensuring that the new Life Guard Hood meets stringent testing requirements for carcinogenic exposure as conducted by IAFF and as proposed by NFPA. With its commitment to providing the highest levels of safety to firefighters, Honeywell has demonstrated that firefighters will be equipped with the cutting-edge technology and design to operate in high-risk environments. For its strong overall performance, Honeywell has earned Frost & Sullivan s 2016 New Product Innovation Award. Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

7 Significance of New Product Innovation Ultimately, growth in any organization depends upon continually introducing new products to the market, and successfully commercializing those products. For these dual goals to occur, a company must be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand, nurturing the brand, and differentiating from the competition. Understanding New Product Innovation Innovation is about finding a productive outlet for creativity for consistently translating ideas into high quality products that have a profound impact on the customer. Key Benchmarking Criteria For the New Product Innovation Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently evaluated two key factors New Product Attributes and Customer Impact according to the criteria identified below. Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

8 New Product Attributes Criterion 1: Match to Needs Criterion 2: Reliability Criterion 3: Quality Criterion 4: Positioning Criterion 5: Design Customer Impact Criterion 1: Price/Performance Value Criterion 2: Customer Purchase Experience Criterion 3: Customer Ownership Experience Criterion 4: Customer Service Experience Criterion 5: Brand Equity Best Practice Award Analysis for Honeywell Decision Support Scorecard To support its evaluation of best practices across multiple business performance categories, Frost & Sullivan employs a customized Decision Support Scorecard. This tool allows our research and consulting teams to objectively analyze performance, according to the key benchmarking criteria listed in the previous section, and to assign ratings on that basis. The tool follows a 10-point scale that allows for nuances in performance evaluation; ratings guidelines are illustrated below. RATINGS GUIDELINES The Decision Support Scorecard is organized by New Product Attributes and Customer Impact (i.e., the overarching categories for all 10 benchmarking criteria; the definitions for each criteria are provided beneath the scorecard). The research team confirms the veracity of this weighted scorecard through sensitivity analysis, which confirms that small changes to the ratings for a specific criterion do not lead to a significant change in the overall relative rankings of the companies. The results of this analysis are shown below. To remain unbiased and to protect the interests of all organizations reviewed, Frost & Sullivan chooses to refer to the other key players as Competitor 2 and Competitor 3. Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

9 DECISION SUPPORT SCORECARD: NEW PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD Measurement of 1 10 (1 = poor; 10 = excellent) New Product Innovation New Product Attributes Customer Impact Average Rating HONEYWELL Competitor Competitor New Product Attributes Criterion 1: Match to Needs Requirement: Customer needs directly influence and inspire the product s design and positioning Criterion 2: Reliability Requirement: The product consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations for consistent performance during its entire life cycle Criterion 3: Quality Requirement: Product offers best-in-class quality, with a full complement of features and functionality Criterion 4: Positioning Requirement: The product serves a unique, unmet need that competitors cannot easily replicate Criterion 5: Design Requirement: The product features an innovative design, enhancing both visual appeal and ease of use Customer Impact Criterion 1: Price/Performance Value Requirement: Products or services offer the best value for the price, compared to similar offerings in the market Criterion 2: Customer Purchase Experience Requirement: Customers feel like they are buying the most optimal solution that addresses both their unique needs and their unique constraints Criterion 3: Customer Ownership Experience Requirement: Customers are proud to own the company s product or service, and have a positive experience throughout the life of the product or service Criterion 4: Customer Service Experience Requirement: Customer service is accessible, fast, stress-free, and of high quality Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

10 Customer Impact BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH Criterion 5: Brand Equity Requirement: Customers have a positive view of the brand and exhibit high brand loyalty Decision Support Matrix Once all companies have been evaluated according to the Decision Support Scorecard, analysts can then position the candidates on the matrix shown below, enabling them to visualize which companies are truly breakthrough and which ones are not yet operating at best-in-class levels. DECISION SUPPORT MATRIX: NEW PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD High Competitor 2 Honeywell Competitor 3 Low Low New Product Attributes High Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth

11 The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards Research Methodology Frost & Sullivan s 360-degree research methodology represents the analytical rigor of our research process. It offers a 360-degree-view of industry challenges, trends, and issues by integrating all 7 of Frost & Sullivan's research methodologies. Too often, companies make important growth decisions based on a narrow understanding of their environment, leading to errors of both omission and commission. Successful growth strategies are founded on a thorough understanding of market, technical, economic, financial, customer, best practices, and demographic analyses. The integration of these research disciplines into the 360-degree research methodology provides an evaluation platform for benchmarking industry players and for identifying those performing at bestin-class levels. 360-DEGREE RESEARCH: SEEING ORDER IN THE CHAOS About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages almost 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 31 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit Frost & Sullivan We Accelerate Growth