Manitou Group: Innovation Serving Employee Safety
Manitou Group: A Pioneer in Innovation and Safety
A global leader in material handling, aerial work platforms, and earthmoving equipment, Manitou Group is committed to improving working conditions and safety while preserving the environment. With its strategic plan “New Horizons 2025,” the company places a strong emphasis on employee safety, pursuing an ambitious goal: zero accidents.
A Hackathon to Unite Teams
To foster innovation and strengthen collaboration across departments, Manitou Group organized its first hackathon. Initiated by the IT Department with the support of Human Resources and the Executive Committee, the event brought teams together around a crucial theme: workplace safety.
The theme chosen for this first Manitou Group hackathon is: “How can we move toward zero accidents using new technologies?”
I’m confident this will spark new ideas and fresh perspectives to continuously improve the safety of the women and men at Manitou Group.
The hackathon allowed employees to showcase their technical skills while breaking down organizational silos, creating new synergies and enriching everyone’s professional experience. This initiative led to innovative solutions aimed at achieving zero accidents.
I wanted to organize a hackathon at Manitou Group because I’m convinced that when we bring together the expertise of all our employees—regardless of their role or the division they work in—we can achieve great things.
Onepoint: A Strategic Partner for a Successful Event
Onepoint supported Manitou Group with a comprehensive human and methodological framework over 18 months, bringing together expertise in change management, design, communication, and project leadership. This support was structured around three key phases:
The journey unfolded in three stages:
- Defining the hackathon topic (February to June 2023)
- Preparing and facilitating the event (July to November 2023)
- Refining the winning concept (December 2023 to June 2024)
To carry out these three phases, tailored methodologies were developed:
- To define the topic: collaborative workshops involving diverse profiles from across the company
- To engage the teams: a customized methodology based on design thinking principles, along with awareness sessions to get teams up to speed on the theme
- To refine the concept: benchmarking, trend analysis, and field interviews to assess interest and level of support
This structured and inclusive approach was key to creating lasting engagement and bringing innovative ideas to life around workplace safety.
Onepoint Live enhanced the event with a tailor-made event offering, ensuring flawless organization and facilitation throughout the two days of the hackathon. Manitou Group was able to fully leverage Onepoint’s expertise and solutions.
- A dedicated, modular, and versatile collaborative space fostering creativity
- Expert talent to support and address Manitou Group’s specific challenges
- A methodology designed to fit both the context and the ambition of the “New Horizons 2025” strategic plan
This setup contributed to the success of an event that not only inspired innovation but also reinforced Manitou Group’s commitment to safety and collective intelligence.
It lasts two days, it’s intense, it’s fast-paced, and there’s a whole methodological framework that we bring to the teams. A hackathon also means thorough preparation, so it’s essential to ensure full alignment with the key challenges surrounding the event.
Several innovative solutions emerged
This first hackathon, titled “How can we move toward zero accidents using new technologies?”, led to the development of several innovative solutions addressing key safety challenges. Employees from across the company fully engaged to make this event a rewarding and memorable experience within the group.
The result was a clear success, driven by two strong sponsors (VP IT and VP Business) and a panel of expert judges who acknowledged both the quality of the solutions and the hackathon format’s power to accelerate innovation.
Two key concepts emerged from the initiative
Onepoint supported the continuity and structuring of these winning ideas by guiding the Manitou Group teams through the next steps. This work led to the delivery of a comprehensive document combining contextual insights and forward-looking projections, using a design foresight approach to help Manitou Group sponsors make informed decisions.
A collaboration that helped Manitou Group meet the challenge of safety
With Onepoint’s support, Manitou Group successfully rose to the challenge of workplace safety through a high-impact hackathon—marking a pivotal moment in the company’s culture of innovation and collaboration. Thanks to tailored methodologies and strategic guidance, Manitou Group continues to move closer to its zero-accident goal, further strengthening its position as a committed leader in employee safety and well-being.