In the case of HPM, the managing director estimates that about 30 percent of input to new ideas comes from “bouncing ideas around and innovating ideas in the think tank environment of the one-hour daily management meeting each morning each morning.” This process is supported by site visits by executives to international fairs and exhibitions like those in Hannover and Washington, and talking to other manufacturers worldwide that are producing similar product ranges. Rather than copied, these are used to stimulate thought processes as input to HPM’s own innovation. Benchmarking with selected companies is conducted for technology reasons and not for efficiency comparisons, as is the usual basis for competitive benchmarking Since the Japanese and Chinese situation is fully appreciated, HPM mainly uses European, British, and American firms, with the closest association established with a large, privately owned U.S. firm having an identical philosophy to that of HPM These exchanges are confirmed by formal benchmarking arrangements to ensure each is a “two-way street.” Another key input to HPM’s innovation process comes from sharing inventions with various inventors and then developing something different based on the original product, for which the inventor is properly rewarded.