Managing mechanisms for collaborative new-product development in the ceramic tile design chain

This paper focuses on improving the management of New-Product Development (NPD) processes within the particular context of a cluster of enterprises that cooperate through a network of intra- and inter-firm relations. Ceramic tile design chains have certain singularities that condition the NPD process, such as the lack of a strong hierarchy, fashion pressure or the existence of different origins for NPD projects. We have studied these particular circumstances in order to tailor Product Life-cycle Management (PLM) tools and some other management mechanisms to fit suitable sectoral reference models. Special emphasis will be placed on PLM templates for structuring and standardizing projects, and also on the roles involved in the process.This work was partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología; Dirección General de Investigación under the Plan Nacional de I+D+i programme for Research Promotion (Project DPI2002_02141. CE-TILE). We also acknowledge the help given by Capgemini España S.L.U., TAU Cerámica S.A., Esmalglass S.A., Macer S.A. and Cerámica Kersa S.L. in the new ceramic product design and development pilot experience, which was carried out within the framework of the project

Use of Patterns for Knowledge Management in the Ceramic Tile Design Chain

Knowledge Management (KM) is a complex objective, especially in the instance of extended enterprises consisting of SMEs, and critical in new product design and development (NPD). The use of patterns is essential to get KM in collaborative NPD processes. This paper presents the use of patterns adopted in the CE-TILE project to standardize information and knowledge in collaborative work. The different types of patterns and models established for the knowledge capture, formalization and configuration are also described

A model-driven DSS architecture for delivery management in collaborative supply chains with lack of homogeneity in products

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Production Planning & Control: The Management of Operations on 2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09537287.2013.798085Uniform product deliveries are required in the ceramic, horticulture and leather sectors because customers require product homogeneity to use, present or consume them together. Some industries cannot prevent the lack of homogeneity in products in their manufacturing processes; hence, they cannot avoid non-uniform finished products arriving at their warehouses and, consequently, fragmentation of their stocks. Therefore, final uniform product amounts do not match planned production ones, which frequently makes serving previous committed orders with homogeneous quantities impossible. This paper proposes a model-driven decision support system (DSS) to help the person in charge of delivery management to reallocate the available real inventory to orders to satisfy homogenous customer requirements in a collaborative supply chain (SC). The DSS has been validated in a ceramic tile collaborative SC.This research has been carried out within the framework of the project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ref. DPI2011-23597) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Ref. PAID-06-11/1840) entitled 'Methods and models for operations planning and order management in supply chains characterized by uncertainty in production due to the lack of product uniformity' (PLANGES-FHP). Also, we thank the comments and suggestions made by the Editors and the Reviewers. In our opinion, these changes have improved the quality of the paper.Boza García, A.; Alemany Díaz, MDM.; Alarcón Valero, F.; Cuenca, L. (2014). A model-driven DSS architecture for delivery management in collaborative supply chains with lack of homogeneity in products. Production Planning and Control. 25(8):650-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2013.798085S650661258Abid, C., D’amours, S., & Montreuil, B. (2004). Collaborative order management in distributed manufacturing. International Journal of Production Research, 42(2), 283-302. doi:10.1080/00207540310001602919Akkermans, H., Bogerd, P., & van Doremalen, J. (2004). Travail, transparency and trust: A case study of computer-supported collaborative supply chain planning in high-tech electronics. European Journal of Operational Research, 153(2), 445-456. doi:10.1016/s0377-2217(03)00164-4Alarcón, F., Alemany, M. M. E., Lario, F. C., & Oltra, R. F. (2011). La falta de homogeneidad del producto (FHP) en las empresas cerámicas y su impacto en la reasignación del inventario. Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio, 50(1), 49-58. doi:10.3989/cyv.072011Alarcón, F., Alemany, M. M. E., & Ortiz, A. (2009). Conceptual framework for the characterization of the order promising process in a collaborative selling network context. International Journal of Production Economics, 120(1), 100-114. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.07.031Alemany, M. M. E., Alarcón, F., Lario, F.-C., & Boj, J. J. (2011). An application to support the temporal and spatial distributed decision-making process in supply chain collaborative planning. Computers in Industry, 62(5), 519-540. doi:10.1016/j.compind.2011.02.002Alemany, M. M. E., Alarcón, F., Ortiz, A., & Lario, F.-C. (2008). Order promising process for extended collaborative selling chain. Production Planning & Control, 19(2), 105-131. doi:10.1080/09537280801896011Alemany, M. M. E., Lario, F.-C., Ortiz, A., & Gómez, F. (2013). Available-To-Promise modeling for multi-plant manufacturing characterized by lack of homogeneity in the product: An illustration of a ceramic case. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 37(5), 3380-3398. doi:10.1016/j.apm.2012.07.022Arshinder, Kanda, A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2008). Supply chain coordination: Perspectives, empirical studies and research directions. International Journal of Production Economics, 115(2), 316-335. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.05.011Azevedo, A. ., & Sousa, J. . (2000). A component-based approach to support order planning in a distributed manufacturing enterprise. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 107(1-3), 431-438. doi:10.1016/s0924-0136(00)00680-4Balakrishnan, A., & Geunes, J. (2000). Requirements Planning with Substitutions: Exploiting Bill-of-Materials Flexibility in Production Planning. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 2(2), 166-185. doi:10.1287/msom.2.2.166.12349Bhakoo, V., Singh, P., & Sohal, A. (2012). Collaborative management of inventory in Australian hospital supply chains: practices and issues. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 17(2), 217-230. doi:10.1108/13598541211212933Bititci, U., Turner, T., Mackay, D., Kearney, D., Parung, J., & Walters, D. (2007). Managing synergy in collaborative enterprises. Production Planning & Control, 18(6), 454-465. doi:10.1080/09537280701494990Boza, A., Ortiz, A., & Cuenca, L. (2010). A Framework for Developing a Web-Based Optimization Decision Support System for Intra/Inter-organizational Decision-Making Processes. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 121-128. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-14341-0_14Framinan, J. M., & Leisten, R. (2009). Available-to-promise (ATP) systems: a classification and framework for analysis. International Journal of Production Research, 48(11), 3079-3103. doi:10.1080/00207540902810544Gomes da Silva, C., Figueira, J., Lisboa, J., & Barman, S. (2006). An interactive decision support system for an aggregate production planning model based on multiple criteria mixed integer linear programming. Omega, 34(2), 167-177. doi:10.1016/j.omega.2004.08.007Hernández, J. E., Poler, R., Mula, J., & Lario, F. C. (2010). The Reverse Logistic Process of an Automobile Supply Chain Network Supported by a Collaborative Decision-Making Model. Group Decision and Negotiation, 20(1), 79-114. doi:10.1007/s10726-010-9205-7Holweg, M., & Pil, F. K. (2007). Theoretical perspectives on the coordination of supply chains. Journal of Operations Management, 26(3), 389-406. doi:10.1016/j.jom.2007.08.003Jagdev, H. S., & Thoben, K.-D. (2001). Anatomy of enterprise collaborations. Production Planning & Control, 12(5), 437-451. doi:10.1080/09537280110042675Kubat, C., Öztemel, E., & Taşkιn, H. (2007). Decision support systems in production planning and control. Production Planning & Control, 18(1), 1-2. doi:10.1080/09537280600940572Lambert, D. M., & Cooper, M. C. (2000). 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Co-ordination and integration mechanisms to manage logistics processes across supply networks. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 9(3), 119-134. doi:10.1016/s1478-4092(03)00008-6Zschorn, L. (2006). An extended model of ATP to increase flexibility of delivery. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 19(5), 434-442. doi:10.1080/0951192050039903

The role of a firm's absorptive capacity and the technology transfer process in clusters: How effective are technology centres in low-tech clusters?

This paper analyses how the internal resources of small- and medium-sized enterprises determine access (learning processes) to technology centres (TCs) or industrial research institutes (innovation infrastructure) in traditional low-tech clusters. These interactions basically represent traded (market-based) transactions, which constitute important sources of knowledge in clusters. The paper addresses the role of TCs in low-tech clusters, and uses semi-structured interviews with 80 firms in a manufacturing cluster. The results point out that producer–user interactions are the most frequent; thus, the higher the sector knowledge-intensive base, the more likely the utilization of the available research infrastructure becomes. Conversely, the sectors with less knowledge-intensive structures, i.e. less absorptive capacity (AC), present weak linkages to TCs, as they frequently prefer to interact with suppliers, who act as transceivers of knowledge. Therefore, not all the firms in a cluster can fully exploit the available research infrastructure, and their AC moderates this engagement. In addition, the existence of TCs is not sufficient since the active role of a firm's search strategies to undertake interactions and conduct openness to available sources of knowledge is also needed. The study has implications for policymakers and academia

Role of Networking in Innovation Promotion and Cluster Modernization: “House of the Future” Case

This paper stresses the potential of innovative business cooperation networks in promoting regional competitiveness. It is based on the case study of a cooperation network, named “House of the Future”, carried out in the framework of a project where the University of Aveiro has an important role. It suggests success factors in the development of co-operation networks between firms from various sectors and a university. The aim of the “House of the Future” initiative is to promote an innovative approach to inter-organizational cooperation joining together firms from a number of different industrial activities related with the habitat meta-sector. This collaborative effort can function as an experiment for the design of regional innovation policies.

Product-Service development for circular economy and sustainability course

ABSTRACT: This book is an output of the ERASMUS+ KATCH_e project. KATCH_e stands for “Knowledge Alliance on Product-Service Development towards Circular Economy and Sustainability in Higher Education”. This was a 3-year project (2017-2019), aiming to address the challenge of reinforcing skills and competences in Higher Education and within the business community, in the field of product-service development for the circular economy and sustainability, with a particular focus on the construction and furniture sectors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Current and future challenges of the ceramic tile firms

Treball Final de Grau en Administració d'Empreses. Codi: AE1049. Curs 2017-2018The aim of the current work consists of explaining the evolution of the industrial districts, from their beginning with the Marshall theory to their evolution over time. The presentation of the different perspectives and methodologies which will be exposed along the current work, will allow us to have a clearer view of their evolution. Thus, the different joint actions which have been conducted have permitted the formation of the concept of "Cluster". Among the different characteristics that define the diverse districts, it is remarkable the coexistence of relationships of cooperation and competition among the companies. This would involve a series of competitive advantages which would be difficult to be repeated in a different context due to everything the context of the clusters implies. The work is structured as follows. Firstly, we will find the theoretical framework, in which the concepts of evolution, competition, internationalization and innovation will be explained. Later, we will find a comparison between Spain and Italy. To finish, we will focus on some specific areas of the previously mentioned countries, particularly Castellon and Emilia- Romagne

Sustainable Value-Sharing Mechanisms of the Industrial Internet of Things Platforms:A Case Study of Haier’s Service-Oriented Transformation

Ensuring fairness and equity in value distribution is crucial for the sustainability of platform ecosystems. However, existing approaches to distributing benefits among cooperative entities often find it difficult to accurately assess each stakeholder’s contributions. This paper tackles this challenge through a case study of the Haier COSMOPlat IIoT platform. By analyzing its value creation and value distribution processes, the research uncovers how platform enterprises can overcome existing limitations by quantifying and revealing intangible customer relationships alongside financial metrics. This revised value-sharing mechanism encourages a shift from “post-event value-sharing” to “mid-event adjustment”, promoting a fair and equitable profit distribution framework that motivates stakeholders toward sustainable value co-creation

Critical Factors for New Product Developments in SMEs' Virtual Team

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered as an engine for economic growth all over the world and especially for developing countries. During the past decade, new product development (NPD) has increasingly been recognized as a critical factor in ensuring the continued survival of SMEs. On the other hand, the rapid rate of market and technological changes has accelerated in the past decade, so this turbulent environment requires new methods and techniques to bring successful new products to the marketplace. Virtual team can be a solution to answer the requested demand. However, literature have shown no significant differences between traditional NPD and virtual NPD in general, whereas NPD in SME’s virtual team has not been systematically investigated in developing countries. This paper aims to bridge this gap by first reviewing the NPD and its relationship with virtuality and then identifies the critical factors of NPD in virtual teams. The statistical method was utilized to perform the required analysis of data from the survey. The results were achieved through factor analysis at the perspective of NPD in some Malaysian and Iranian manufacturing firms (N = 191). The 20 new product development factors were grouped into five higher level constructs. It gives valuable insight and guidelines, which hopefully will help managers of firms in developing countries to consider the main factors in NPD

A holonic multi-agent methodology to design sustainable intelligent manufacturing control systems

[EN] The urgent need for sustainable development is imposing radical changes in the way manufacturing systems are designed and implemented. The overall sustainability in industrial activities of manufacturing companies must be achieved at the same time that they face unprecedented levels of global competition. Therefore, there is a well-known need for tools and methods that can support the design and implementation of these systems in an effective way. This paper proposes an engineering method that helps researchers to design sustainable intelligent manufacturing systems. The approach is focused on the identification of the manufacturing components and the design and integration of sustainability-oriented mechanisms in the system specification, providing specific development guidelines and tools with built-in support for sustainable features. Besides, a set of case studies is presented in order to assess the proposed method.This research was supported by research projects TIN2015-65515-C4-1-R and TIN2016-80856-R from the Spanish government. The authors would like to acknowledge T. Bonte for her contribution to the NetLogo simulator of the AIP PRIMECA cell.Giret Boggino, AS.; Trentesaux, D.; Salido Gregorio, MÁ.; Garcia, E.; Adam, E. (2017). A holonic multi-agent methodology to design sustainable intelligent manufacturing control systems. Journal of Cleaner Production. 167(1):1370-1386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.079S13701386167