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Abstract：The role that innovation plays in industry is, usually, exclusively discussed in more technically advanced industries (for example, automotives and pharmaceuticals). More mature and established industries, such as textiles and ceramics, are often neglected. This article redresses this balance by considering the role of technological innovation in the UK ceramics industry. Case analysis comprising both retrospective and current innovation in the industry is used to highlight the role of innovation and some of the antecedents to successful technological innovation.

1. A brief history of the UK ceramics industry
Ceramics are defined as non-metallic inorganic materials and the word ceramics derives from the Greek Karamos, which roughly translates as fired earth. The famous potters Josiah Wedgwood, Thomas Minton and Josiah Spode founded potteries in Staffordshire, in the UK, in the 18th century in the towns that were to amalgamate and become known as Stoke-on-Trent. This region was most suitable for pottery production due to its abundance of local clay and coal for kilns. These resources aided the initial growth of the UK pottery industry along with the Trent and Mersey Canal in 1777.

2. The role of innovation and new technology
It can be argued that the UK ceramics industry has witnessed two technological innovation and new technology revolutions. When the first potters started production of ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent they, effectively, turned what was a craft into an industry. This initial production of traditional ceramic goods (i.e., tableware, tile, brick and sanitaryware sectors) brought with it the main innovating problem of obtaining output continuity; manufacturing one cup, tile or brick as mentioned previously. To respond to this, revolutionary production units were established, the forerunner to this being Wedgwood. Much of the industry then witnessed an extended period of consolidation and, up until the middle of the twentieth century, the manufacturing of ceramics goods had hardly changed from the revolutionary production units of 200 years ago.
Today, new technology is of increasing importance to the UK ceramic producer. With increased competition from both other materials (for example, glass and plastic) and foreign markets, the need for new technology to provide faster throughput times and greater reliability is of great importance. The majority of this innovation activity is concerned with making ceramic goods https://www.51lunwen.org/ukthesis/ quicker, cheaper, more reliable and long lasting. Increased mechanisation is also being sought in the majority of the main manufacturers from tile, sanitaryware and tableware manufactures: The industrial potter's ideal is a single machine into which are fed the powdered raw materials at one end and which turns out the fully finished pieces of ware, ready for despatch, at the other end.

3. The role of the research and technology organisation (RTO)
RTOs and Research Associations are private sector companies that specialise in the provision of services to the complete spectrum of UK and international companies, generating and diffusing innovation across the technology spectrum. An RTO will usually represent an industry or technology-type and draw its member base from the companies it serves. Their unique position本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。