We think that research and development on our own behalf completely makes perfect sense. On one hand we want to improve the quality, on the other hand the efficiency of our products, i.e. your projects. We achieve this through process development (process innovation) and through the development of own platforms and tools.
We invest about 4% of our working time in the development of our processes. As starting point and benchmark we use CMMI-DEV (Capability Maturity Model Intergrated for Development). Sporadic external audits ("appraisals") give a an external view of the way we work and point to improvement potential.
In between, there is the permanent process of continuous improvement and also a peer-to-peer internal audit of our project work. This is not primarily about enforcing processes, but about identifying processes that are not workable and then making them workable. This leads to lean and productive processes which are also lived and thus lead to project that are cost-effective and of excellent quality.
In order not to have to re-invent recurring tasks like protocols, embedded data management, simulation, supply calculations and parametrization again and again, we invest in own tools and platforms. Using e.g. code generators and small adaptations to standard frameworks, fast and error-free development of the infrastructure for typical embedded projects (PC user interface, simulation of hardware and mechanics for (automated) tests...) can be attained.