An integrated product and process information modelling system for on-site construction

The inadequate infrastructure that exists for seamless project team communications has its roots in the problems arising from fragmentation, and the lack of effective co-ordination between stages of the construction process. The use of disparate computer-aided engineering (CAE) systems by most disciplines is one of the enduring legacies of this problem and makes information exchange between construction team members difficult and, in some cases, impossible. The importance of integrating modelling techniques with a view to creating an integrated product and process model that is applicable to all stages of a construction project's life cycle, is being recognised by the Construction Industry. However, improved methods are still needed to assist the developer in the definition of information model structures, and current modelling methods and standards are only able to provide limited assistance at various stages of the information modelling process. This research investigates the role of system integration by reviewing product and process information models, current modelling practices and modelling standards in the construction industry, and draws conclusions with similar practices from other industries, both in terms of product and process representation, and model content. It further reviews various application development tools and information system requirements to support a suitable integrated information structure, for developing an integrated product and process model for design and construction, based on concurrent engineering principles. The functional and information perspectives of the integrated model, which were represented using IDEFO and the unified modelling language (UML), provided the basis for developing a prototype hyper-integrated product and process information modelling system (HIPPY). Details of the integrated conceptual model's implementation, practical application of the prototype system, using house-building as an example, and evaluation by industry practitioners are also presented. It is concluded that the effective integration of product and process information models is a key component of the implementation of concurrent engineering in construction, and is a vital step towards providing richer information representation, better efficiency, and the flexibility to support life cycle information management during the construction stage of small to medium sized-building projects

The impact of localized road accident information on road safety awareness

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that road traffic accidents represent the third leading cause of ‘death and disease’ worldwide. Many countries have, therefore, launched safety campaigns that are intended to reduce road traffic accidents by increasing public awareness. In almost every case, however, a reduction in the total number of fatalities has not been matched by a comparable fall in the total frequency of road traffic accidents. Low severity incidents remain a significant problem. One possible explanation is that these road safety campaigns have had less effect than design changes. Active safety devices such as anti-lock braking, and passive measures, such as side impact protection, serve to mitigate the consequences of those accidents that do occur. A number of psychological phenomena, such as attribution error, explain the mixed success of road safety campaigns. Most drivers believe that they are less likely to be involved in an accident than other motorists. Existing road safety campaigns do little to address this problem; they focus on national and regional statistics that often seem remote from the local experiences of road users. Our argument is that localized road accident information would have better impact on people’s safety awareness. This thesis, therefore, describes the design and development of a software tool to provide the general public with access to information on the location and circumstances of road accidents in a Scottish city. We also present the results of an evaluation to determine whether the information provided by this software has any impact on individual risk perception. A route planing experiment was also carried out. The results from the experiment gives more positive feedback that road users would consider accident information if such information was available for them

Improvement of cost estimating internal practice

This thesis is concerned with understanding the internal costing practices employed by commercial and engineering disciplines of cost estimating for generating estimates at the conceptual design stage of complex hardware products. It examines whether there is a formal structure in the interaction between the two groups that can be represented within a model. The aim is to develop a framework that will formalise and improve the communication of commercial and engineering disciplines in cost estimating. A literature review examines the role of different costing techniques and the information requirements for generating cost estimates. The review identifies that there is a lack of research in the information requirements for cost estimating of specific manufacturing industries, and that the interaction of commercial and engineering disciplines of cost estimating at conceptual design stage is hindered by the different focuses of these groups. By conducting a survey study the author identifies the internal practice in cost estimating for the automotive industry. The survey establishes that in order to improve the internal practice it is essential to establish a data infrastructure that formalises and enables the reuse of the cost estimates and improves the interaction between the two groups. The author identifies a common cost estimating process for the automotive industry. This study establishes the required data and information elements and information sources that need to be collected in order to have reliable data infrastructure. Using a case study approach, the author also establishes that it is essential to analyse the product functions in such a way that will enable the development of a detailed cost estimating model at the conceptual design stage, which will improve interaction between the commercial and engineering groups. The function-based cost estimating process becomes the focus of detailed studies using experts from the automotive industry. This results in a generic framework that provides a formalised structure to represent functional requirements in the form of a detailed cost estimating model. The thesis concludes that product functions need to be captured and analysed during the conceptual development of a product and be associated to cost estimates. The developed results provide both groups of cost estimating a structured, consistent approach to developing cost estimates at the conceptual design stage. The data infrastructure and the function-based cost estimating framework is validated through case studies and expert evaluation. The approach contributes towards improvement of the internal cost estimating practice with the automotive industry.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Development of an integrated manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation framework

With the end of the Cold War and the subsequent reduction in defence spending, the Taiwanese defence industry has encountered great difficulties. Recently, the Government announced that at the end of 2006, all military plants should move from the public sector to the private sector. The aim being not only to maintain a manufacturing capability sufficient to ensure the technical competence and resources necessary for an effective and timely response to a mobilisation but also to reduce government infrastructure costs. However, unless the military plants take more aggressive action to assess their management and manufacturing weaknesses effectively, their modernisation efforts will not succeed. This research is concerned with the development of a methodology for manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation to help Taiwanese military plants develop and maintain a competitive advantage. The basic concept of the proposed framework is based on the Balanced Scorecard concept. However, the structure and procedures have been further developed to reflect Taiwan's specific requirements. In particular, the proposed framework provides a structure and tools to tackle a number of key requirements, such as the need to provide both internal and external measures as a means of both qualitatively and quantitatively prioritising and evaluating manufacturing strategic concerns, and the need to show continuously where improvement needs to be made. Industrial case studies have shown that the proposed framework is both feasible and effective when applied within the particular environment of Taiwanese military plants. In addition the proposed framework has highlighted some theoretical and practical problems associated with the design and development of manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation framework. Due to its generic nature, through interviews with three UK companies, it was demonstrated that the proposed framework could also be applied to other societies and industries, either public or private, to solve their manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation problems

A manufacturing model to enable knowledge maintenance in decision support systems

The product development process, within a typical manufacturing company, utilises huge amounts of knowledge related to manufacturing and design activities. Knowledge based systems are increasingly being used to support manufacturing and design decisions. These systems are important tools for obtaining a competitive advantage and leverage using company "know-how". However, it is important to define suitable knowledge structures in the creation of these decision support systems. Due to the significant volume of knowledge generated in the manufacturing and design stage, there is a need to create structures and methods that readily manage and maintain the knowledge in order to a) assure the long-term use of these systems b) improve the company's competitiveness. The research reported in this thesis explores and defines a Manufacturing Facility Information and Knowledge Model (MFIKM) allowing a) the ability to store and manage various types of knowledge, b) the capturing of valuable new knowledge using a knowledge maintenance method. The understanding of an information and knowledge infrastructure using different types of knowledge categorisation has been explored. The major emphasis has been placed on understanding the facility knowledge structure related to processes and resources supporting process planning decisions. Using a knowledge maintenance life cycle as a method to maintain knowledge, it was possible to capture new and valuable machining knowledge using different types of representations. Knowledge models and methods are essential in the definition of structures to support manufacturing decisions allowing knowledge management and maintenance. It has been shown that the knowledge structures defined for the new model can serve as a source and repository for different types of knowledge allowing the support of manufacturing decisions with up-to-date knowledge. The framework defined enables the structuring of facility knowledge, processes, and resources, as super classes; improving the understanding of the relationships and dependencies among them, and allowing accessibility depending on the characteristics of each. A UML tool helped in the creation of new structures detailing attributes for the classes defined. An experimental system has been implemented using the object-oriented database ObjectStore© and the Visual C++ programming environment. The MFIKM has been explored using scenarios from machining knowledge to successfully demonstrate the feasibility of knowledge maintenance supporting process planning decisions using the knowledge structures defined.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Modelling learning behaviour of intelligent agents using UML 2.0

This thesis aims to explore and demonstrate the ability of the new standard of structural and behavioural components in Unified Modelling Language (UML 2.0 / 2004) to model the learning behaviour of Intelligent Agents. The thesis adopts the research direction that views agent-oriented systems as an extension to object-oriented systems. In view of the fact that UML has been the de facto standard for modelling object-oriented systems, this thesis concentrates on exploring such modelling potential with Intelligent Agent-oriented systems. Intelligent Agents are Agents that have the capability to learn and reach agreement with other Agents or users. The research focuses on modelling the learning behaviour of a single Intelligent Agent, as it is the core of multi-agent systems. During the writing of the thesis, the only work done to use UML 2.0 to model structural components of Agents was from the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agent (FIPA). The research builds upon, explores, and utilises this work and provides further development to model the structural components of learning behaviour of Intelligent Agents. The research also shows the ability of UML version 2.0 behaviour diagrams, namely activity diagrams and sequence diagrams, to model the learning behaviour of Intelligent Agents that use learning from observation and discovery as well as learning from examples of strategies. The research also evaluates if UML 2.0 state machine diagrams can model specific reinforcement learning algorithms, namely dynamic programming, Monte Carlo, and temporal difference algorithms. The thesis includes user guides of UML 2.0 activity, sequence, and state machine diagrams to allow researchers in agent-oriented systems to use the UML 2.0 diagrams in modelling the learning components of Intelligent Agents. The capacity for learning is a crucial feature of Intelligent Agents. The research identifies different learning components required to model the learning behaviour of Intelligent Agents such as learning goals, learning strategies, and learning feedback methods. In recent years, the Agent-oriented research has been geared towards the agency dimension of Intelligent Agents. Thus, there is a need to conduct more research on the intelligence dimension of Intelligent Agents, such as negotiation and argumentation skills. The research shows that behavioural components of UML 2.0 are capable of modelling the learning behaviour of Intelligent Agents while structural components of UML 2.0 need extension to cover structural requirements of Agents and Intelligent Agents. UML 2.0 has an extension mechanism to fulfil Agents and Intelligent Agents for such requirements. This thesis will lead to increasing interest in the intelligence dimension rather than the agency dimension of Intelligent Agents, and pave the way for objectoriented methodologies to shift more easily to paradigms of Intelligent Agent-oriented systems.The British Council, the University of Plymouth and the Arab-British Chamber Charitable Foundation

Improving design coordination in computer supported environments in SMEs : implementation of a tool for capturing and analysing collaboration between actors

To remain competitive in a context of multi-partner projects companies are increasingly concerned with the coordination of design projects. Information systems such as PLM or CSCW are implemented to support the coordination of product information flows. Project managers are nevertheless finding it increasingly difficult to manage projects effectively. The impact of collaboration aspects on the design process is especially difficult for them to evaluate. Indeed, failing to integrate collaboration aspects into coordination can account for a great deal of design mistakes and finding a solution could lead to improved design coordination. The main obj ective of this researchi s then to help project managersi mprove coordination in design processes through a detailed analysis of collaboration between actors. A model of coordination and an associated model of collaboration have been devised together with a tool ('CoCa') to be used by researchers, consultants or project managers in the analysis of collaboration. This analysis can lead to the understanding of collaboration aspects and identification of the problems caused. Consequently, guidelines can be defined to prevent the re-emergence of the identified design problems in new projects. These guidelines are recommendations to introduce collaborative aspects, flexibility in the design process and elements for decision making when defining future design situations. Finally, a study of a specific application implementing PLM tools demonstrates that they are not able to manage firstly design projects and human resources whilst taking into account collaborative aspects or, secondly, the necessary synchronisation between human design activities and document workflow tasks. It is thus evident that these two factors are needed in PLM tools in order to apply the proposed model of coordination. An industrial partnership with an SME led to the study of its information system, an experiment with the CoCa tool, practical design process improvements, and implementation of a PLM prototype.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Organisations as complex adaptive systems : implications for the design of information systems

Today a paradigm shift in the field of organisation and management theories is no longer disputed and the need to switch from the Command-and-Control to the Leaming Organisation Paradigm (LOP) in the area of organisational theory is well understood. However, it is less well appreciated that learning organisations cannot operate effectively if supported by centralised databases and tailor-made application programs. LOP emphasises adaptability, flexibility, participation and learning. It is important to understand that the changes in organisational and management strategies will not on their own be able to produce the desired effects unless they are supported by appropriate changes in organisational culture, and by effective information systems. This research demonstrates that conventional information system strategies and development methods are no longer adequate. Information system strategies must respond to these needs of the LOP and incorporate new information systems that are capable of evolving, adapting and responding to the constantly changing business environment. The desired adaptability, flexibility and agility in information systems for LOP can be achieved by exploiting the technologies of the Internet, World Wide Web, intelligent agents and intranets. This research establishes that there is a need for synergy between organisational structures and organisational information systems. To obtain this desired synergy it is essential that new information systems be designed as an integral part of the learning organisational structure itself. Complexity theory provides a new set of metaphors and a host of concepts for the understanding of organisations as complex adaptive systems. This research introduces the principles of Complex Adaptive Systems and draws on their significance for designing the information systems needed to support the new generation of learning organisations. The search for new models of information system strategies for today's dynamic world of business points to the 'swarm models' observed in Nature

A knowledge representation model to support concurrent engineering team working

This thesis demonstrates that a knowledge representation model can provide considerable support to concurrent engineering teams, by providing a sound basis for creation of necessary software applications. This is achieved by demonstrating that use of the knowledge representation model facilitates the capture, interpretation and implementation of important aspects of the multiple, diverse types of expertise which are essential to the successful working of concurrent engineering project teams. The varieties of expertise which can be modelled as instances of the knowledge representation model range from specialist applications, which support particular aspects of design, by assisting human designers with highly focused skills and knowledge sets, to applications which specialise in management or coordination of team activities. It is shown that both these types of expertise are essential for effective working of a concurrent engineering team. Examination of the requirements of concurrent engineering team working indicate that no single artificial intelligence paradigm can provide a satisfactory basis for the whole range of possible solutions which may be provided by intelligent software applications. Hence techniques, architectures and environments to support design and development of hybrid software expertise are required, and the knowledge representation model introduced in this research is such an architecture. The versatility of the knowledge representation model is demonstrated through the design and implementation of a variety of software applications

A theoretical and empirical study of performance measurement: a challenge for management accounting information systems

Management accounting information systems (MAISs) play an important role in supporting continuous improvement efforts and management decision-making activities. MAISs provide manufacturing companies with internal financial and some non-financial information required for the three essential functions of planning, controlling and performance measurement. According to Drury (2000), "management accounting systems accumulate, classify, summarize and report information that will assist employees within an organization in their decision-making, planning, control and performance measurement activities".Performance measurement is one of the most important aspects of MAISs. The development of the concept of performance measurement is the direct result of several dramatic changes in the way today's business environment is structured and how companies employ world class manufacturing (WCM) philosophies or techniques to compete for marketplace advantages. These changes have impacted on the way companies are organised and in skills required to manage, motivate, and empower the workforce to support continuous improvement. Other changes, especially in the Egyptian manufacturing environment, have come from the effect of international agreements, such as General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and World Trade Organisation (WTO), and organisational pressures, such as the ISO 9000 programme.This thesis presents a theoretical and empirical study to determine 'what', why', and 'how' performance measurement systems (PMSs) are changing, as a challenge for MAISs, with the adoption of Just in Time (JIT) and Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophies. A discussion of these questions is presented in Chapter 8. In order to investigate how PMSs can best be used to support the continuous improvement philosophy of JIT and TQM, a model for developing PMSs in a JIT and TQM environment was constructed (see Figure 8.1). This study has used a qualitative method of research. The research findings and the model for developing PMSs in a JIT and TQM environment have been obtained from a literature review and data collected from two Egyptian pharmaceutical companies. The model, as it stands, is exploratory in nature. It proposes a body of ideas that form a new theory formulated for developing PMSs in a JIT and TQM environment. The model could be applicable to manufacturing companies, which have started or plan to implement JIT and TQM philosophies, since it provides a framework for the development and use of PMSs, rather than prescriptive lists of measures and reports that should be used. Norreklit (2000) indicated that models are needed which deepen our understanding of how PMSs are created, and to this end MAISs research has to make its contribution