IoT-enabled planning, control, and execution in ETO manufacturing: dynamics, requirements, and system architecture: a case study of Brunvoll AS

Confidential until 18. May 202

Is communication evolving?

Oppgaven handler om utfordringene i informasjonsflyten mellom ledelsen og produkusjonen i et høy variasjon - lavt volum miljø. Hvor det ble utforsket på hvordan en digital tilnærming av Lean prinsippet kan forbedre informasjons flyten. Det ble utført en case studie gjennom en norsk produksjons bedrift som faller under miljøet høy variajson - lavt volum

Manufacturing Network 4.0 : oppsummering – aktiviteter – publisering og formidling

Prosjektet Manufacturing Network 4.0 ble gjennomført i perioden juni 2015 – desember 2019. Deltakere i prosjektet var fire FoU-partnere og seks bedriftspartnere. Ca 20 forskere var tilknyttet prosjektet, men som notatet viser var det i alt over 150 personer som i større eller mindre grad har vært bidragsytere til prosjektet gjennom denne perioden. Prosjektet var finansiert av Norges forskningsråd (80 %) og deltakende industripartnere (20 %). Hensikten med dette notatet er å gi en kortfattet beskrivelse av prosjektet inklusive deltakere og aktiviteter, samt å gi en samlet oversikt over all publisering og formidling. Målgruppen er først og fremst alle som har deltatt i prosjektet, både fra fou-institusjonene og fra industrien. Språket i denne oppsummeringen er dels engelsk, dels norsk. Dette fordi tekstene er hentet fra litt ulike kilder. Vi regner med at det ikke skaper noe problem for den aktuelle målgruppen

Development of methodologies and procedures for identifying STS users and uses

A study was conducted to identify new uses and users of the new Space Transporation System (STS) within the domestic government sector. The study develops a series of analytical techniques and well-defined functions structured as an integrated planning process to assure efficient and meaningful use of the STS. The purpose of the study is to provide NASA with the following functions: (1) to realize efficient and economic use of the STS and other NASA capabilities, (2) to identify new users and uses of the STS, (3) to contribute to organized planning activities for both current and future programs, and (4) to air in analyzing uses of NASA's overall capabilities

Framework for Sales and Operations Planning in Engineer-to-Order Environment

In recent years, sales and operations planning (S&OP) has become an integral part of the supply chain functions in many organizations. S&OP is seen as a way to create organizational alignment with the operating strategy and as a result improve revenue, decrease inventory levels and reduce costs. Thus, its positive effect on company’s performance has clearly been noticed. Despite the growing practical interest towards the implementation and execution of S&OP, the research around the topic has focused on consumer goods or pharmaceutical industry and on Make-to-Stock (MTS) environment. This master’s thesis studies the execution and best practices related to S&OP in industrial manufacturing in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environment. The goal of the research is to develop a framework for the execution of S&OP for companies operating in ETO context. In addition, a deeper understanding is sought on the factors that create the need to customize S&OP based on the requirements of ETO environment. These objectives were addressed by first developing a framework related to S&OP execution in MTS environment based on the current academic literature. Through an empirical study, the assumptions of the framework were tested by interviewing S&OP process stakeholders within an organization operating in ETO environment. This provided a chance to gain understanding on how S&OP is carried out in the context of ETO and what are the similarities and differences compared to S&OP in MTS environment. Based on these findings, the initial framework was modified to the needs and requirements of ETO context. As a result, an execution framework for S&OP in ETO environment was created. The framework constructed passed the weak market test carried out in this research and is being implemented in the case company. The findings of this study imply that there are differences in the execution of S&OP between MTS and ETO environment and, hence, the processes should be managed differently. It was evident that S&OP should be customized according to the requirements of the business environment. The found factors with the greatest impact on the need to customize S&OP in ETO context are fluctuating demand, difficulty to forecast and wide and complex product portfolio. Due to the existence of these factors, there is a need to place high emphasis on demand planning, scenario analysis and strategy and risk analysis as part of the S&OP in ETO environment. In addition, finance should be integrated as part of the process and the transparency of the process and decision-making should be secured. The framework constructed in this study provides opportunities for organizations operating in ETO environment to enhance their S&OP practices and, hence, ensure continuous competitiveness

Integration of Overlapped Design and Construction Stages Through Location-Based Planning Tools

The overlap of design and construction stages is a current practice in the construction industry, which aims to shorten the project lead time and cost. Apart from the construction industry fragmentation and its difficulties imposed on project management, this type of project faces some additional challenges, such as difficulties in optimising the design solution in a short period and in keeping the construction activities flowing smoothly. Furthermore, the advantages of this practice may be minimised if the time is badly managed, resulting in over-costs, time delays, and an increase in uncertainty. Although these problems can be avoided through the use of lean management practices, there is a lack of research on the application of lean for managing projects with overlap between design and construction stages. Moreover, the current literature in planning overlapped projects explores traditional methods of planning, such as the Critical Path Method (CPM), which have limited capacity to deal with the construction complexity. Hence, research on the use of lean tools for planning, namely location-based scheduling (LBS) tools, is needed and has a wide field of exploration to improve the performance of overlapped projects. The aim of this research is to devise a model to design, plan and control the stages of design and construction in the context of projects with overlap between these stages, using LBS tools and other lean practices to pull and align the project production regarding location, sequence and takt-time. The objectives are: (i) Determine how to use location-based tools to structure the work for design, suppliers and construction in alignment with their production sequences and production batches; (ii) Find out how to assemble design packages to meet suppliers’ and construction requirements; (iii) Determine the decoupling point of design development in order to apply pull production; (iv) Identify and analyse pros and cons of existing types of pull production systems that better suit the context of overlapped projects; (v) Explore how to measure and manage the work in progress and buffers in an integrated project system; (vi) Identify the best tools to control the production system, and to ensure that downstream information is achieving upstream processes. The research process contains three studies from the researcher’s professional experience: a fourth case study at the new university’s building in Norway; a fifth action research study in a highways depot maintenance project in the UK; and a sixth case study in a construction company in a residential project in Norway. The research approach used to develop the studies was the Design Science Research (DSR). The DSR is a mode of producing scientific knowledge through the creation and implementation of a solution (an artefact) for problems that affect the construction management. The production of the artefact is the aim of this research, and it is built throughout the studies. Findings indicate the use of LBS tools applied in construction to pull production in design and supply. The production control is conducted by an adapted last planner system to confirm and align deliverables with construction. Moreover, the BIM process is designed in connection with procurement and construction activities. The final model of this research can be used in the project management of construction projects with overlapping of design and construction phases, for example fast-track construction, flash-track construction, and complex projects with concurrent development of design and construction