Open Minded Corporate Culture and Management Supports the Sharing of External and Internal Knowledge — Phonak

Abstract

Phonak, the world’s fifth largest developer and manufacturer of hearing technology, was founded in 1964 by the engineer Beda Diethelm and the executive Andy Rihs. In its first years, the company copied hearing aids from other manufacturers, while improving the product’s quality. However, Phonak soon realized that hearing problems must be treated interdisciplinarily. The cooperation of professionals in microelectronics, micromechanics, medicine, psychoacoustics, psychology, physics, and audiology enabled the company to set landmarks on the road to “optimal hearing solutions.” Due to the lack of suitable manufacturing equipment, Phonak also developed the appropriate production technology while it produced hearing aids. Nowadays, this development is still reflected in the company’s interdisciplinary mix of research, development, and production.