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By Mike Rainone ~ In theory, anyone can innovate. In practice, few do. What sets the innovators apart? At PCDworks, we’re in the business of innovation, which means we’ve had to learn how to identify innovative minds. Usually, when hiring, people look at resumes and past experience. Innovation is hard to quantify, though. It is not simply an action, but a mindset—a way of thinking and looking at the world. In my experience as co-founder, instead of relying on resumes, you need to look deeper, at core character traits. If you want to innovate, you need curious generalists who aren’t fatheads. That’s the special sauce.

Almost every company wants to innovate (or at least says they want to innovate), but too many make the mistake of expecting innovation to just happen on its own. If you want innovation, you have to drive it. The good news is you can start driving innovation in just three days. At PCDworks, we have developed a tried-and-true process we call Immersive InnovationTM. The process itself is simple. Read on to learn how.

We’re big science fiction fans here at PCDworks. Our founder and chief innovation officer Mike Rainone once made his son a replica of a phased plasma rifle from Terminator for Halloween. Despite being made out of wood, it was so realistic people stopped them and checked to make sure it wasn’t real!

The Marine Corps has about 180,000 active personnel and an annual budget of about $50 billion. So why would they come to a company like PCDworks, with a staff of only 10, to solve their problem? They came to us not despite our size, but because of it.

The art of problem-solving, especially when it relates to innovation, requires diverse perspectives and approaches. When we innovate solutions to difficult problems at PCDworks, we pay special attention to fundamental research and functional decomposition. It’s not as complicated as it sounds:

Knowledge leading to understanding which can lead to wisdom are all invaluable for personal and professional growth, and understanding their distinctions is essential for decision-making and problem-solving.

If you’re looking for a creative collaborator to help bring an idea to life, you must do what you can to ensure it’s a great match. Launching a business or new product line is challenging enough. Make sure you have a partner by your side who complements your strengths and compensates for your weaknesses.

A new Essentium 3D Printer is now available at PCDworks, allowing for immediate creation of high-quality parts.

PCDworks hosted the inaugural meeting of the East Texas Innovation Partnership Collective in July 2023.

At PCDworks, we love to nerd out over how our brains work, for obvious reasons. An enlightening episode of PBS NOVA highlights a key concept that guides our Immersive Ideation™ sessions: The brain's self-monitoring function is crucial for everyday life, but it also places a leash on our creativity.

The inherent risk and uncertainty of innovation, paired with the looming threat of a recession, has been causing ripples across the country and the world.

Real-time flow monitoring integrates with existing sprinkler or irrigation system to save water, money, and energy

If you’re wondering if working with PCDworks makes sense for your organization, here are some fundamental characteristics that likely make us a good fit for each other.

A psychologist, an architect, and an engineer walk into a bar…learn about the PCDworks approach to prove that American ingenuity isn't dead.

PCDworks had a recent opportunity to be part of the Lab to Startup podcast with Naresh Sunkara, PhD

PCDworks presented at the Capital Factory in November 2022.

A new website for PCDworks and new ways to keep in touch.