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Innovator recognised
Salem – HSM GmbH + Co. KG is one of the 100 most innovative small and mediumsized companies (SMEs) in Germany according to this year's nationwide Top 100 corporate bench-marking competition. Now in its 15th year, the aim of this competition is to seek out outstanding examples of innovation management in Germany's SME sector. Lothar Späth, former state premier of Baden-Württemberg, awarded this prestigious seal of approval to HSM at an official ceremony at the Phönixhalle in Stuttgart.
As patron of the SME project he will be recognising HSM’s success in the five key categories of “Successful Innovations”, “Climate of Innovation”, “Innovative Processes and Organisation”, “Innovation-friendly Senior Management” and “Innovations Marketing”. The company, which supplies document shredders, cutting machines, cardboard shredders and complete disposal systems, achieved its highest ranking in the “Innovations Marketing” category. If it is to live up to its corporate ambitions – greatest possible customer benefit and highest quality – HSM has to keep its finger on the pulse. It makes frequent use of customer and employee surveys as well as market research studies to determine future trends. Regular company-wide product and innovation planning meetings are held and interdepartmental working groups are set up to organise inhouse innovation projects. Senior managers are always members of the project teams to ensure that projects have a high probability of implementation. The new SECURIO range of document shredders proves how successful this innovation process can be. Dealers, buyers and users drew up a wish list of features: quiet operation, low energy-use, easy handling, high efficiency and elegant design. HSM developers and an acclaimed design company took this wish list to heart and the SECURIO range is setting new technical and visual standards in office technology.
Top 100 seeks out and encourages small and medium-sized enterprises with outstanding innovative capabilities. The search is carried out by experts in innovation from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, led by Professor Nikolaus Franke. A first questionnaire is used to record the innovative potential of entrants, then a second questionnaire is used to as-sess key aspects of their innovation management. Prof Franke summarises the results for each winning company in a comprehensive benchmarking report. “This means that the award has a practical use for us, as well as enhancing our image”, enthused Hermann Schwelling, managing director of HSM GmbH + Co. KG. “The SWOT analysis enables us to further optimise our innovation management on the basis of a sound scientific evaluation.”
