The root-cause of process innovation success in the manufacturing sector

Process innovation is vital for manufacturing companies, particularly in supporting product innovation, yet it remains less studied than product-focused innovation. Its success depends heavily on the front-end stage, where opportunities are identified, ideas are generated and project scope is defined. This study consolidates dispersed knowledge on front-end success factors in process innovation and highlights critical gaps in understanding how this early stage should be managed. By reviewing and synthesising existing literature, the study clarifies the factors that shape effective front-end execution and outlines future research directions. Findings show that companies benefit from a structured front-end approach built on three activity areas: 1) systematic and methodical project execution; 2) alignment of process innovation with broader organisational activities, including product innovation; 3) foundational activities that enable success, such as fostering an innovation climate and building process knowledge. Effective process innovation also requires strong human capital and capabilities to manage multi-functional teams.