A company’s success is never simply down to its products. It’s driven by the people that create and make them. From engineers to designers and project managers, every single person at Raaft brings expertise, creativity and a passion for problem-solving. As innovation manager, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a talented group of individuals and together we drive the development of Raaft’s roof terrace systems.
I was initially drawn to Raaft because of its strong portfolio of IP-protected products and the opportunity to build on this solid foundation by bringing true innovation to the table. My role as innovation manager allows me to explore new ideas and take our modular terrace systems to a new level.
Another major influence was the company culture. Raaft genuinely nurtures and fosters an open environment where new ideas are actively encouraged and explored. This willingness to challenge and push the boundaries means we continually refine our terrace systems. My job is to help guide these iterations while ensuring we meet both the needs of the market and Raaft’s high quality standards.
Tackling engineering challenges
I came into the role with 30 years’ experience across both the construction sector and in consumer-focused industries. This has given me a balanced perspective with my construction background providing me with a deep
understanding of market context while experience in consumer roles helps me stay grounded in the orthodox ways of reviewing market needs. Together this has been instrumental in designing and delivering products that resonate with customer demands. Whether I’m working with design, engineering or marketing, collaboration is at the heart of how we deliver products that meet customer expectations.
Creative collaboration
One of the best parts of working at Raaft is how we tackle challenges as a team. A recent example of this was our work on kerfing natural stone for our unique wind uplift solution. Due to the tolerances and variations in natural stone, this required some creative thinking between engineering and design to change the way grooves were inserted into the stone and how they matched up with the wind uplift clip.
The design team reworked the specifications to deal with the variations in the stone, while engineering carried out testing to ensure that everything fitted perfectly. Through clear communication and close collaboration, we arrived at a solution that delivered both technically and visually.
This iterative problem-solving really captures, and is reflective of, the culture at Raaft. It’s not about finding a quick fix, rather thinking outside the box and working together to come up with lasting solutions. Each discipline brings a unique perspective to the table, and by leveraging those skill sets, we find that this interdepartmental collaboration can make the difference in a product’s successful development.
A shared mindset
There’s shared belief at Raaft that the health and strength of the brand, and the value it gives to customers, comes first. When everyone is aligned around doing what’s right for the product and the customer, it encourages personal
growth, curiosity and continuous improvement. By combining diverse expertise with a culture that empowers people to grow, Raaft is well placed to keep advancing what’s possible in roof terrace design.
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