A Hierarchical Core Reference Ontology for New Technology Insertion Design in Long Life Cycle, Complex Mission Critical Systems

Organizations, including government, commercial and others, face numerous challenges in maintaining and upgrading long life-cycle, complex, mission critical systems. Maintaining and upgrading these systems requires the insertion and integration of new technology to avoid obsolescence of hardware software, and human skills, to improve performance, to maintain and improve security, and to extend useful life. This is particularly true of information technology (IT) intensive systems. The lack of a coherent body of knowledge to organize new technology insertion theory and practice is a significant contributor to this difficulty. This research organized the existing design, technology road mapping, obsolescence, and sustainability literature into an ontology of theory and application as the foundation for a technology design and technology insertion design hierarchical core reference ontology and laid the foundation for body of knowledge that better integrates the new technology insertion problem into the technology design architecture

A game-theoretic framework for concurrent technology roadmap planning using best-response techniques

Technology roadmapping provides a tool for technology planning and selecting what to pursue in what timeframes. In this paper, a game-theoretic framework for technology roadmap planning is proposed to address the enumeration, selection and evaluation of possible evolution paths for technology roadmapping characterized by an iterative and competitive technology development process between companies within one tradespace. More specifically, the framework including companies as game players demonstrates the most favorable reactions to each other's technology development by approximated best response functions. Next, the selection process of optimal development paths is carried out to evaluate the possible payoffs using backward induction. Finally, a case is studied to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach

Two-dimensional Pareto frontier forecasting for technology planning and roadmapping

Technology evolution forecasting based on historical data processing is a useful tool for quantitative analysis in technology planning and roadmapping. While previous efforts focused mainly on one-dimensional forecasting, real technical systems require the evaluation of multiple and conflicting figures of merit at the same time, such as cost and performance. This paper presents a methodology for technology forecasting based on Pareto (efficient) frontier estimation algorithms and multiple regressions in presence of at least two conflicting figures of merits. A tool was developed on the basis of the approach presented in this paper. The methodology is illustrated with a case study from the automotive industry. The paper also shows the validation of the methodology and the estimation of the forecast accuracy adopting a backward testing procedure

Technology roadmapping methodology for future hypersonic transportation systems

This paper discloses an innovative methodology for the generation and update of technology roadmaps to support strategic decisions for future hypersonic transportation systems, specifically targeting non-profit oriented R&D. The methodology is fully integrated into up-to-date conceptual design activity flows. It consists of five main steps that through mathematical and logical models moves from stakeholders’ analysis up to planning definition and results evaluation. Complementary to the traditional experts-based methodologies, the rational process here presented allows for a well-structured logical definition of activities and/or missions required to enhance the readiness level of technologies, including a more accurate and reliable budget and time resources estimation to support the technology development plan. This methodology is exploited in the framework of the H2020 STRATOFLY Project to assess the potential of hypersonic civil vehicles to reach Technology Readiness Level 6 by 2035 with respect to key technological, societal and economical aspects. The paper discloses a unique assessment of the readiness level of the European air-breathing propulsive technologies. The final results confirm the crucial role of air-breathing propulsive technologies in the development of future hypersonic transportation system and highlight the urgent need to invest in in-flight demonstration missions with increasing functionalities, to target 2050 as entry in to service of the first Mach 8 civil transport

How to Structure a Company-wide Adoption of Big Data Analytics

Driven by increasing amounts of data and by emerging technologies to store and analyze them, companies adopt Big Data Analytics (BDA) to improve their innovativeness and decision-making. However, adopting BDA across the company in the sense of an insight-driven organization (IDO) is challenging, since it influences the entire company and requires an organizational change. Despite mature knowledge, approaches that provide concrete methods for structuring the company-wide adoption of BDA to fully exploit the benefits of BDA and to reduce the risk of its failure are still missing. Following action design research, we developed and evaluated a method for structuring the company-wide adoption of BDA in a concerted research effort at a German bank. Based on knowledge of BDA and the road mapping approach, the method structures the adoption along the BDA capabilities. We illustrate how companies can define a target state, identify gaps, and derive a BDA roadmap

A comparison of processing techniques for producing prototype injection moulding inserts.

This project involves the investigation of processing techniques for producing low-cost moulding inserts used in the particulate injection moulding (PIM) process. Prototype moulds were made from both additive and subtractive processes as well as a combination of the two. The general motivation for this was to reduce the entry cost of users when considering PIM. PIM cavity inserts were first made by conventional machining from a polymer block using the pocket NC desktop mill. PIM cavity inserts were also made by fused filament deposition modelling using the Tiertime UP plus 3D printer. The injection moulding trials manifested in surface finish and part removal defects. The feedstock was a titanium metal blend which is brittle in comparison to commodity polymers. That in combination with the mesoscale features, small cross-sections and complex geometries were considered the main problems. For both processing methods, fixes were identified and made to test the theory. These consisted of a blended approach that saw a combination of both the additive and subtractive processes being used. The parts produced from the three processing methods are investigated and their respective merits and issues are discussed

Reducing risk in pre-production investigations through undergraduate engineering projects.

This poster is the culmination of final year Bachelor of Engineering Technology (B.Eng.Tech) student projects in 2017 and 2018. The B.Eng.Tech is a level seven qualification that aligns with the Sydney accord for a three-year engineering degree and hence is internationally benchmarked. The enabling mechanism of these projects is the industry connectivity that creates real-world projects and highlights the benefits of the investigation of process at the technologist level. The methodologies we use are basic and transparent, with enough depth of technical knowledge to ensure the industry partners gain from the collaboration process. The process we use minimizes the disconnect between the student and the industry supervisor while maintaining the academic freedom of the student and the commercial sensitivities of the supervisor. The general motivation for this approach is the reduction of the entry cost of the industry to enable consideration of new technologies and thereby reducing risk to core business and shareholder profits. The poster presents several images and interpretive dialogue to explain the positive and negative aspects of the student process

Scenario-driven roadmapping for technology foresight

This paper presents a novel method for using scenarios for technology foresight. Technology foresight is a well-established discipline, practised with popular foresight methods such as roadmapping and scenario planning. Applying each foresight method reveals limitations in practice, some of which can be addressed by combining methods. Following calls for combining foresight methods, and past attempts to integrate scenario planning and technology roadmapping, we propose a novel method for their combination. The resulting method — ‘scenario-driven roadmapping’ differs in: i) using scenario planning first to identify plausible images of the general environment and then using the scenarios for technology roadmapping; and ii) taking advantage of ‘flex points’ – critical developments which would signal transitions along particular pathways – to create a ‘radar’ to support effective monitoring of the environment over time. This new combined method takes advantage of the strengths of both methods, while addressing their limitations. A case study vignette centred on the work of a special interest group for Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology adoption in the English National Health Service is presented to illustrate and reflect upon the use in practice of the ‘scenario-driven roadmapping’ method. Participants were able to develop a detailed technology roadmap with clear ‘flex points’ helping to connect present circumstances with pathways towards future scenarios. We report on how participants engaged with the scenario-driven method and outcomes achieved were recorded

Technology Roadmapping for Commercializing Strategic Innovations

In the increasingly globalized world economies, a variety of drivers define the market and regulatory contexts for commercializing the strategic innovations that provide significant competitive advantage in the near-term and long-term future. In this study we examine how technological roadmapping integrates these strategic contextual factors with the organizational capabilities and resources of the firm to commercialize strategic innovations. This is done by first examining four roadmapping case-studies: (1) at Motorola, (2) at Sandia National laboratories, (3) the National and International Roadmaps for Semiconductors, and (3) nanotechnologies. A five stage process is proposed for commercializing strategic innovations. Finally, managerial implications and potential future research are discussed.En las crecientes economías del mundo globalizado, una variedad de factores definen al mercado y el contexto regulatorio para la comercialización de innovaciones estratégicas que proveen ventajas competitivas significantes a corto y largo plazo. En éste estudio se examinan como la generación de mapas tecnológicos integran estos factores contextuales con las capacidades organizacionales y los recursos de la compañía para comercializar las innovaciones estratégicas. El estudio se realizó examinando 4 casos de mapas tecnológicos: (1) Motorota, (2) Laboratorios Nacionales Sandia, (3) Los mapas Internacionales para Semiconductores y (4) Nanotecnologías. Un procedimiento consistente en 5 etapas es propuesto para la comercialización de innovaciones estratégicas. Finalmente se discuten, las implicaciones de gestión y el desarrollo de un futuro tema de investigación.In the increasingly globalized world economies, a variety of drivers define the market and regulatory contexts for commercializing the strategic innovations that provide significant competitive advantage in the near-term and long-term future. In this study we examine how technological roadmapping integrates these strategic contextual factors with the organizational capabilities and resources of the firm to commercialize strategic innovations. This is done by first examining four roadmapping case-studies: (1) at Motorola, (2) at Sandia National laboratories, (3) the National and International Roadmaps for Semiconductors, and (3) nanotechnologies. A five stage process is proposed for commercializing strategic innovations. Finally, managerial implications and potential future research are discussed