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

HOW DOES A PROJECT-BASED ORGANIZATION AFFECT THE SMART FACTORY’S DEVELOPMENT? ACHIEVING “SMARTNESS” THROUGH A “FLUID MOSAIC” ORGANIZING

In this contribution we argue that a fluid mosaic organizing is in the need when it comes to develop innovation in a smart environment. Indeed we propose the fluid mosaic organization as a way of smart organizing. Our research focuses on three project-based organizations in order to answer this research question: how research and industry coordinate in a temporary project-based organization? What kinds of project-based organization can better stimulate collaboration and innovation among research and industry towards the effective smart factory’s development? Data have been collected from multiple sources: documents, interviews and participant observation. First results shows that when coordination is strongly based on the hierarchy, it is hard to transfer knowledge, making tricky the innovation development. Instead, when coordination is based on mutual adjustments between partners, the information flow is natural, as well as the knowledge transfer, leading to more flowing processes. However, all these mechanisms are strictly linked and depend also on the cognitive distance between the partners. Particularly, when the distance is low, the leadership style is democratic and coordination is firstly based on mutual adjustment and then standardization, the resulting smart organization takes the form of what we call a “fluid mosaic” drawing on the fluid mosaic concept developed in biology

Business Models in a New Digital Culture: The Open Long Tail Model

New business models are emerging in global markets. Quirky is producing new products designed and developed by the community and finally produced by the 3D printing technology. Google gives his glasses to different developers who build up their own applications. Kickstarter finds the funders by the use of the crowd, paying them back with the future products. Employees, funders, customers and partners do not play a stable role with the organization but revolve around it using different form of collaborations related to the organization’s needs. In this scenario business like Amazon find out their own achievement feeding up different customers’ needs

The disrupters: Lessons for low-carbon innovation from the new wave of environmental pioneers

We need disruptive forms of innovation 13 cheaper, easier-to-use alternatives to existing products or services, often produced by non-traditional players for previously ignored customers. This report tells the stories of eight such "disrupters" and draws wider lessons for low-carbon innovation. Its recommendations include: 1. Government should provide an enabling policy framework within which low-carbon innovation ca

We're Education ... You're Semiconductors: Improving Worker Skills Through Employer-Community College Partnerships

Economic expansion and technological change are increasing the demand for skilled workers. Much of our education and workforce development policy focuses on the skills people acquire before they start working. But it is also important for workers to continue their training once they are on the job in order to perform company-specific tasks, keep pace with new technology and become more productive employees. This report describes how several major employers are partnering with community colleges to provide training that upgrades the skills of their workers. The report offers key lessons for both employers and community colleges about how to structure their relationships, and about what these very different entities can and should expect from each other

Improving desktop FDM 3D printer by user-centered design

3D printing technology has been receiving more attention in the last decade since it was invented in the 1980s. This trend is especially obvious among desktop FDM 3D printers due to the contribution of the RepRap project. However, there are voices claiming that the undesirable user experience of these desktop machines caused users to believe that 3D printers are just professional toys, instead of a tool. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the needs of users in order to make desktop FDM 3D printers become meaningful equipment. This is the main focus of the thesis. The main research question of the thesis addresses how User-Centered Design can be used to make the entry-level FDM 3D printer become a useful tool that improves the work efficiency of architects. Besides, the secondary research question is to explore how UCD should be located in the startup business. In order to fulfill the mentioned tasks, this thesis, on one hand, describes the product development process of the 3D printer project. The project consisted of three phases. The first stage was to define the target consumers and the user requirements, in which I followed UCD methodology, using interview, fieldwork observation and online research to understand their needs and pain points about using 3D printers. The second stage of the project was to come up with solutions and to design the product. I carried out the benchmarking about the existing products and designed the hardware features with my teammates. The last phase was about six-months piloting with five architecture firms in Helsinki. We made 10 prototypes for this pilot and the constant feedback given by clients enabled us to finalize the prototypes. Meanwhile, this pilot also empowered architects to realize that 3D printers are a useful tool that benefits their work. At the same time, by documenting each stage of the development of the project, the thesis also reflects the mistakes and insufficiencies that happened in this project. At the end of the thesis, the author discusses what would be other possible results of the project if UCD could be applied in a different order. At the end of the thesis, conclusions are drawn and answers to its research questions are provided. To start with, interacting with users throughout the entire product development process and understanding the requirements of both the general users and the target users are two essential factors that enabled the project to achieve its goal successfully. In addition, it is important that startup companies should place the user research and customer development on the same level. UCD should not be limited by the frame defined by customer development. An inclusive UCD plays a vital role in the success of the startup business

Transition UGent: a bottom-up initiative towards a more sustainable university

The vibrant think-tank ‘Transition UGent’ engaged over 250 academics, students and people from the university management in suggesting objectives and actions for the Sustainability Policy of Ghent University (Belgium). Founded in 2012, this bottom-up initiative succeeded to place sustainability high on the policy agenda of our university. Through discussions within 9 working groups and using the transition management method, Transition UGent developed system analyses, sustainability visions and transition paths on 9 fields of Ghent University: mobility, energy, food, waste, nature and green, water, art, education and research. At the moment, many visions and ideas find their way into concrete actions and policies. In our presentation we focused on the broad participative process, on the most remarkable structural results (e.g. a formal and ambitious Sustainability Vision and a student-led Sustainability Office) and on recent actions and experiments (e.g. a sustainability assessment on food supply in student restaurants, artistic COP21 activities, ambitious mobility plans, food leftovers projects, an education network on sustainability controversies, a transdisciplinary platform on Sustainable Cities). We concluded with some recommendations and reflections on this transition approach, on the important role of ‘policy entrepreneurs’ and student involvement, on lock-ins and bottlenecks, and on convincing skeptical leaders