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Innovation

Throughout Textron's long history, innovation has been at the very core of our success. As the world's first multi-industry company, our business model introduced a new paradigm. The Chairman’s Award for Innovation celebrates this spirit among our employees.

The Chairman's Award for Innovation

Since 1999, the Chairman’s Award for Innovation has recognized individuals and teams within Textron whose exemplary innovations have led to significant improvements in products and technology or in the company’s business practices that have resulted in tangible gains in sales, profitability quality or competitive position.

The award winners come from all Textron businesses and cut across functional areas. Innovation awards are awarded in the categories of Product & Technology and Business Practice. A cross-business panel evaluates each nominee and selects the finalists and the winners.

Textron Chairman of the Board Lewis B. Campbell presents the awards at an annual dinner. Winners receive a $5,000 cash award, a trophy and lapel pin, and inclusion on the Chairman’s Award for Innovation Wall of Fame at Textron’s World Headquarters.

Winning Projects from the 2008 Chairman's Award for Innovation

The 2008 Chairman’s Award for Innovation presentation was held in July 2009, and 13 projects from across Textron were honored with awards. The winning projects were:

• Engineering Boot Camp. A program to successfully recruit talented young engineering graduates to Textron through a weeklong experience that creates a bond between the company and students – by a team at Bell Helicopter.
• High-Resolution Thermal Mapping Processor. This allows the user to quickly and accurately map temperatures from 2-D thermal images to a 3-D wireframe model using a graphic user interface – by a team at Bell Helicopter.
• Protecting the Warfighter Through Armor Placement. A high-resolution, three-dimensional mapping capability that provides accurate and intuitive visualization of critical vehicle vulnerabilities – integrated with a new and highly-efficient armor design process – by a team at Bell Helicopter.
• Cessna Specification Presentation Tool or “Spec Tool.” An interactive software application that allows the customer to visualize their selections in real-time, virtual 3-D to help them personalize their aircraft – by a team at Cessna.
• FEANN: Software for Process Optimization of Machine Parts. This software tool is capable of predicting optimum machining parameters for combination of cutting tool and work material in significantly shorter time – two minutes as opposed to 30 to 48 hours – by a team at Cessna.
• Trade Compliance Globalization Enablement System. A scalable system of applications and processes to help sustain and grow Cessna’s global business model, enabling foreign persons and partners seamless access to information while meeting government regulations – by a team at Cessna.
• 4,000-pound Capacity Cable Puller. A puller for electrical cable with new features, faster set up and safer operation – by a Greenlee employee.
• GT-12 (Non-Contact) Self-Testing Voltage Detector.  A product that safely detects the presence of AC voltage in an outlet, lighting fixture or wire without having to come into direct physical contact with the circuit  – by a team at Greenlee.
• Next Generation Carbon Canister (NGCC).This temporarily stores fuel vapor escaping from the gasoline fuel tank during refueling and vehicle operation. Its electrically-controlled heating system of synthetic carbon monliths enables fast and efficient cleaning of the canister during engine operations – by a team at Kautex.
• Aggregations Capabilities in Level 2 Fusion.   A new suite of aggregation tools for U.S. Army intelligence, fusing large numbers of data sets into logical groups that can be quickly and clearly understood by intelligence personnel – by a team at Textron Systems.
• High Power, High Fidelity RF-Excited Laser Technology.  This achieves high-power, high-fidelity waveforms that are required for airborne, long-range, high-resolution laser radar applications – by a team at Textron Systems.
• Lightweight Small Arms Weapon and Ammunition Technologies (LSAT). Light machines guns and corresponding ammunition reduces a machine gunner’s carried load by a combined 16 pounds – by a team at Textron Systems.
• PDCue 4-Corner System. An acoustic gunfire detection system that detects gunshots, locates the shooter and can be integrated with an armored vehicle’s remote weapon system to keep soldiers safe in battle – by a team at Textron Systems.