"designing an innovative new process" VS "tweaking of a process flow sheet"

"Who would have guessed that the first quote was written six months AFTER the second?"

I don't see where it would matter which of the two statements were made first. One is commenting on a new process the other is commenting on tweaking the process flow sheet. The process could have changed during the 6 months, possibly because testing this unique graphite lead to an innovation that was more economical and or environmentally friendlier or for other rasons. Maybe this is where AE's comment about establishing a Patent comes in. The flow sheet would have been tweaked before this innovative process and also after.