Innolot: International Manufacturing Technology Development in Poland

The Innolot program represented some firsts for Sikorsky Aircraft and its Polish subsidiary, PZL Mielec. It was the first win of an international research and development program for Sikorsky as well as the largest manufacturing technology investment by either company. The conditions surrounding the program were also somewhat unique. The technologies and innovations developed existed in the United States and Europe, however they did not exist in Polish industry. The supply base was non-existent and little expertise in any of the technologies proposed existed outside of academia. Guidance and support from the United States was provided within a robust International Trade Compliance (ITC) process with special emphasis on avoiding inadvertent exports of manufacturing "know how". This program was a "first" in terms of technology and size for PZL Mielec, therefore an appropriate program management structure and culture was created and coached to insure proper control of projects replete with discovery. This paper explores the cultural as well as the technological aspects that led to a successful conclusion of the program in the spirit of the Vertical Flight Society: "…engineers, scientists and others working to advance vertical flight technology".