Sumittra Duangkaewmanee proudly sports a lab coat now and again, but the 3M Thailand scientist is quick to point out that it’s what happens outside of the lab that has the biggest impact on her work.
“At 3M, we are encouraged to go out into the real world and talk to customers about how they use products,” said Sumittra. “Those interactions are what inspire us to do things differently – to come up with a new solution to a challenge.”
Sumittra Duangkaewmanee proudly sports a lab coat now and again, but the 3M Thailand scientist is quick to point out that it’s what happens outside of the lab that has the biggest impact on her work.
“At 3M, we are encouraged to go out into the real world and talk to customers about how they use products,” said Sumittra. “Those interactions are what inspire us to do things differently – to come up with a new solution to a challenge.”
Stephanie Jacobs was asleep when she had a stroke at the age of 41. When she awoke, she had double vision.
She went to the ER twice, but they couldn’t figure out what was wrong – Stephanie wasn’t showing typical signs of a stroke. An MRI eventually detected a brainstem stroke that damaged the optic-nerve muscle in Stephanie’s left eye. Would she really be stuck with an eye patch?
That’s how she created a new Repulpable Fiber Adhesive Transfer Tape for the local pulp and paper industry. The special tape is used in paper mill manufacturing to adhere large rolls of paper to the roll core, and to help in the roll-closing step of the paper winder process.
Her inspiration came from taking field trips to her customer’s plant, discussing pain points and getting a better understanding of the unique requirements.
The temporary healthcare solution was a patch over her damaged left eye, allowing her to perform basic daily tasks. Over time, her damaged eye showed signs of improvement, and she was able to put away her patch and wear what others would assume were everyday eyeglasses.
Her doctor prescribed an application called 3M Press-On Prisms.
That’s how she created a new Repulpable Fiber Adhesive Transfer Tape for the local pulp and paper industry. The special tape is used in paper mill manufacturing to adhere large rolls of paper to the roll core, and to help in the roll-closing step of the paper winder process.
Her inspiration came from taking field trips to her customer’s plant, discussing pain points and getting a better understanding of the unique requirements.
Sumittra worked closely with her team in the U.S. to create a new tailor-made tape that specifically addressed her customer’s needs, and it is now available to the paper mill industry worldwide.
“When we understand customer-inspired innovation,” she said, “we become a partner to our customers, and we solve problems in the process.”
Sumittra worked closely with her team in the U.S. to create a new tailor-made tape that specifically addressed her customer’s needs, and it is now available to the paper mill industry worldwide.
“When we understand customer-inspired innovation,” she said, “we become a partner to our customers, and we solve problems in the process.”
Sumittra worked closely with her team in the U.S. to create a new tailor-made tape that specifically addressed her customer’s needs, and it is now available to the paper mill industry worldwide.
“When we understand customer-inspired innovation,” she said, “we become a partner to our customers, and we solve problems in the process.”