This document summarizes the career and expertise of Philips M. Gerson, a Dutch technical innovation expert. Over his 50-year career, Gerson has held various engineering management roles in industries such as automotive, consumer goods, and medical devices. He has 20 years of experience teaching technical innovation and 20 years experience lecturing on the topic. Gerson developed innovative engineering education programs and networks. He is currently an independent innovation consultant and lecturer, and continues to publish and consult on topics like design value, innovation education, and engineering design best practices.

1. Technical Innovation Expert
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 AAA Innovations 
Ir. Philips M. GERSON
Personal:
Name: GERSON, Philips M.
Nationality: Dutch
Marital Status:
Date of birth:
Partnered, 5 children
31-07-1943
Education:
University: 1970 Delft Technical University Physics
Masters degree (Ir); Physical Technology
1971-now Many courses on specific technical, innovation and
management matters
Professional
Membership:
KIVI- Royal Institute of Master engineers.
Design Engineering Society.
ODD- Open Dynamic Design (leader)
Career:
Employer/
Responsibility:
1985-now
1998-2008
AAA Innovations; owner
Hanze University Groningen/ Socrates; Promoter, Leader
of Open Dynamic Design project (ODD) and
Dissemination (DODD) ( funding till 2003)
1994-2008 Hanze University/ Erasmus; European Network on
Engineering Design (funding till 1998)
1990-now’)
2002-now’)
Hanze University Engineering; Lecturer Technical
Innovation
Hanze University International Business MBA- Lecturer
Innovation
1990-1991 Manager Eng. & Technology at Smit Ovens-Nijmegen, NL
1988-1990 Development Manager at Hadewe/Alcatel in Drachten, NL
1986-1988
1982-1986
1981-1982
1979-1981
1977-1979
1971-1977
‘)
Mgr Central R, D and Eng- ICOPRO. at Vredestein NV,
HQ in Velp, NL
Engineering Manager at Texas Instruments ( now
Sensata) in Almelo,NL
Manager Innovation and R&D at DRU BV in Ulft,NL
R & D Manager at Kipp Analytica in Emmen,NL
Factory Manager at Brons Industrie in Appingedam,NL
Chief Engineer and Manager R & D at Penn Controls
(now Johnson Controls) in Leeuwarden, NL
after retirement: less frequent
Experience:
1965-1970
1971-1974
1974-1977
Mass, heat, impulse transfer; plastic extruder models;
Control theory; Programming Algol; Patent laws; Industrial
process equipment Y
Liaison to US HQ, Manufacturing system redesign,
European standards Redesign thermostats, pressostats,
humidistats,Electrical contact phenomena; Financial
statements; Social laws; Function analysis & rating;
Labourtime analysis- RWF; Low cost mechanisation ;
Sampling systems - Mil Stds; Statistical process analysis
& control; Electrical and Gas approvals; Bill of material
structuring , Techn. adm; Marketing support,
forecastsystems, logistics
Major total redesign pressostat P77(still on market!)
Valueengineering, ideageneration, selection techniques,
early supplier involvemet, innovative manufacturing
techniques, joining, surface treatment, Experiments

2. Technical Innovation Expert
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 AAA Innovations 
1977-1979
1979-1981
1981-1982
1982-1986
1986-1988
1988-1990
1990-1991
1990-now
structuring, Project management, Netwerkplanning,
Costprice calculation and analysis, Problemsolving
techniques, New product development to market needs,
Field test analysis, Salesforce training
Ship diesel engines, machining, assembling, pile drivers,
hydraulics. MRP, Labour, Financial database
management; Organisation modeling; Workfloorlayout;
People management , Factoryplanning, Certifying (shipb.)
Navy –negotiating;
Combining Physics, Electronics, Mechanics, Chemistry in
Laboratory Analytical Equipment: Gas and Liquid
Chromatography, Dental equipment. R&D cost analysis,
Project Management, Patent Issues, Simulation Testing;
Basic business administration; Innovationstrategy, SWOT,
Commercial negotiating, Government funding: negotiating,
reporting; a.o.
Heating and cooling technology, High efficiency energy
conversion, Stainless steel applications and
manufacturing techniques; Milk and Beer cooling storage
systems; Alternative energy sources Innovation strategy;
Licencing & patents: use and value; New product launch
Inter/Multinational develoment projects. White good and
automotive control product, high volume production,
financial models; Juran quality training; Patent issues,
TIH –statistics; Basics of supervision; PC-Courses;
Automotive fuel management; Supplier and Customer
Negotiating; Project management.
Rubbertechnology; Finance decision models; Polymer
mixing technology; Rheology and processing equipment;
Ford Q 101; Simulationsystems; Chaos theory.
Paper handling equipment, integrating electronics and
mechanical, direct CAD/CAM manufacturing, high speed
camera, statistical testing. Specific optical readers.
Friction optimizing.
Glass cooling ovens, radiation and convection, up and
down scaling, factory organization.
Teaching theory and practice of invention, design and
manufacturing of clever products to high level international
students and professionals. Practical support in new
product and process development project for SME and
large companies.
Developed supporting modules, workshops, exercises and
theories.
Summary:
20 Years of upper management innovation experience in a wide variety of industries, ranging
from control products (Johnson and Texas Instruments-car &white goods), consumer goods
(Vredestein, DRU), hi-tech medical (Kipp) to heavy shipbuilding (Brons) and process equipment
(Smit, Vredestein).
20 Years of lecturing Technical Innovation, based on this experience, integrating design
theories, industrial practice and detailed technical knowledge.
Created a Groningen- based “International Year”-double diploma course with inputs and as part
of PDE-MEng course of University of Glasgow & Glasgow School of Art. This IPDE is ran over
10 years including students of ca 15 nationalities from Australia to Finland.
Developed a wide international network of industrial, academic and education partners.
Developed the Design Value concept, base for risk and potential benefits analysis in Innovation.
Introduced the notion of Defensive barriers, and Open-Ended problems.
Redesigned the Taguchi statistics into a easy to use graphical tool.

3. Technical Innovation Expert
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 AAA Innovations 
Developed the” T-shaped” concept of (the education of) the innovation engineer of depth and
width and a professional master course Technical Innovation. Developed also the reverse T,
converting business professionals into integrated managers, able to deal with technical issues.:
Developed intensive workshops – (typically 1 or 2 week full time) on innovation design methods,
culture and innovation, creativity and design, business and risk management.
Published 20+ papers, member and referee of Scientific Committee of ICED and similar.
Main current occupations (continued after retirement date, July 2008):
 (Guest) Lecturer Technical Innovation at Hanzehogeschool Groningen, at School of
Engineering and at International Business School (MBA)*).
 ODD- and IPDE-Engineering Design Network coordination. ODD, Open Dynamic
Design, on best practice for product development process (incl. theory, methods,
tools); IPDE, International Product Design Engineering, a English taught, multi-
nationality degree course, hub for joint modules, workshops, staff and student
exchange*).
 International guest lecturer and guest workshop leader. (“T-shaped” engineer)
(Swinburne, Glasgow, Leicester, Loughborough, Compiegne, Odense, Galway,
Furtwangen, San Sebastian, Penang a.o.)
 Independent Consultant - A A A Innovations: Technical product and process
innovations in large multinationals, local SME’s and starting entrepreneurs; strategic
change management ànd in-detail projects. Integrated approach.
 Member advisory board GSM (mechanical systems engineering) UTC (Compiègne)*)
 Publications on design value, non-technical aspects of engineering, innovation
education and the many aspects of the ODD and T-shaped (a.o. ICED, SEFI, IMECH,
TEXT, AED, CPI, EDE) .
 Participated deeply in many design projects, ranging from conceptual design to
implementation and upgrading, from consumer goods like coffeemakers and shavers
(Philips) to automotive (Volvo) and space (SRON).
 Coaching young SME’s at start-up projects.
*) discontinued