Aware of the outside world

James West's passion for technology and innovation lead to Open Innovator award.

By Kathy Hogan

Jim West is no stranger to the innovation spotlight. A principal engineering manager in the Rockwell Collins Advanced Technology Center, he is well-known throughout our company for his work on antenna technologies and past recognition as the 2005 Inventor of the Year.

With 22 patents under his belt, and seven more pending at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, West is repeatedly coming up with new ideas to help further grow our business. Of the 22 patents he has received, 20 are for antenna technologies and two are for miniature Radio Frequency filters.

"I just love antenna technology and I'm always asking myself how far I can take it," said West, who joined Rockwell Collins nearly 27 years ago. "There's always new technology out there … some new twist to consider."

It is that pursuit of global antenna technology advancements outside of Rockwell Collins and the use of his extensive antenna industry network that has resulted in his most recent recognition as the Rockwell Collins Open Innovator for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007.

Part of a new corporate recognition program, this award honors the efforts of those who are instrumental in bringing external sources of technology and innovation into our company.

"Jim is working hard to connect our company to various entrepreneurial innovators," said Krishna Pande, senior director of Advanced Radio Systems. "He understands that our company can be even better if we tap into various technology partnerships with universities and small businesses, and through alliances with others in our industry."

Launched in November 2005, the Open Innovation initiative at Rockwell Collins includes the use of global technology, innovative sourcing, and intelligence networks to provide our customers with solutions faster than ever before. Reduced cycle times for new product development also are a benefit of this major initiative.

"Many companies are doing new things when it comes to technology," said West. "Open innovation allows us to use the technology that others have created … we don't always have to start from scratch. It's really about getting a jump on our competition and that's what counts."

West works closely with members of our management team to identify key technologies of high strategic interest to our company, and those that he can pursue from external resources, to complement and strengthen internal technology developments.

"We keep our eye on a technology watch list," explained West. "If it's something we want to pursue, we take it to the next level and adapt it to where we need to go."

One of several engineers involved in the new Open Innovation Community of Practice (CoP) — championed by Raj Aggarwal, vice president of Global Technology and Special Projects at Rockwell Collins — West encourages his colleagues to stay on top of the latest technological advancements by reading trade journals and other publications, and through involvement in professional groups.

"You never know where an idea might come from – and that could lead to both open innovation and invention," said West. "It's all about an awareness of the outside world."